Cavatappi With Vodka Sauce Recipes

CAVATELLI ALLA VODKA

Steps:

• Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and butter and cook until foaming. Add the onions, season with a little salt and saute until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute. Add the crushed red pepper, garlic and some salt and pepper. Cook for 15 more seconds. Add the vodka and deglaze the pan. Add the crushed tomatoes and simmer until the alcohol smell subsides, then add the cream. Let it cook down until it is slightly reduced and flavorful, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Cook the pasta to al dente, 4 to 5 minutes for fresh, or according to the package instructions.
• Toss the sauce with the hot pasta and garnish with fresh basil and grated Parm. Serve with a crusty hunk of Italian bread.
• Combine the 00 and semolina flours with the salt on a clean working surface, form into a mound and make a well in the center. Combine the water, olive oil and salt and add the mixture a little at a time (see Cook's Note). Using a fork, start to mix the dry ingredients into the wet until a shaggy mass forms. Knead vigorously until the dough is smooth, elastic and bounces back when pressed, about 10 minutes.
• Cut the dough in half and work with one piece at a time (cover the other piece with a clean, damp kitchen towel). Using a bench scraper or knife, cut a walnut-sized piece of dough and roll it into a thin rope about 1/3 inch in diameter. Using the 4 fingers of your hand (no thumb), roll the rope of dough back and forth until it is a long, slender, tube-like shape (but not enclosed like a tube). Halve the pieces of pasta lengthwise. Set aside on a clean town sprinkled with semolina flour. Repeat with the remaining dough. Rest the pasta for 30 minutes.
• To cook, generously salt a large pot of boiling water. Add the cavatelli and cook until al dente, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and use with your sauce recipe of choice.

CAVATAPPI WITH VODKA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta by following package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add in onion and garlic; cover and cook 3 minutes or until tender.
• Add in tomato sauce; simmer, partially covered, 8 minutes or until thick.
• Combine flour and water, stirring with a whisk until smooth; add flour mixture to pan; cook 1 minute.
• Add in half-and-half, milk, vodka, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Stir in cheese; decrease heat to low; cook 3 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring frequently.
• Add in pasta; toss to coat; sprinkle with basil.

CAVATAPPI WITH BROCCOLI SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook until very tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the broccoli to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon, reserving the water in the pot. Add the pasta to the boiling water, stir and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, pat the broccoli dry and transfer to a bowl. Using a fork or potato masher, mash the broccoli until mostly smooth but still slightly chunky.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until starting to sizzle and the garlic is just browning, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broccoli and combine with a rubber spatula, lightly mashing it with the oil and cooking down the broccoli a bit further, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the skillet. Stir to combine and add the cheese. Continue to fold the broccoli and pasta together until the sauce coats the pasta, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
• Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with more cheese and drizzle with olive oil.