Enzos Penne A La Vodka Recipes

ENZO'S PENNE A LA VODKA

Steps:

• Saute onions in butter and olive oil until transparent. Add shredded
• or pureed tomatoes with juice. Cook over medium heat 20 to 25 minutes or until all liquid content is reduced.
• Meanwhile in separate saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions, drain very well and set aside. When tomato sauce is ready, stir in heavy cream.
• Bring to a near boil, reduce heat and cook 2 to 3 minutes until cream and tomatoes are well blended.
• Stir in sauce and pepper vodka, mix, stir in hot cooked penne pasta.
• Stir together to blend.
• Liberally sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. -Rosalind Beck CHEF'S NOTES: Pepper vodka is a commercial item available at many liquor stores, but chef Enzo Perlini prefers the flavor of a homemade version: stir 1/4 tsp.
• red crushed pepper in 4 Tbsp Vodka.
• Marinate 3 hours or overnight. Using coffee filter or fine cloth napkin, allow peppered vodka to filter 3 hours.
• Remove and discard filter and set peppered vodka concentrate aside. Penne is large straight tubes of macaroni cut on the diagonal.

PENNE A LA VODKA WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Arrange sliced prosciutto on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until dark red and very crispy, then remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
• In the meantime, heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan and cook shallots and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and vodka, stir well and simmer for 10 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
• Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese and stir until sauce thickens, add salt to taste, then remove from heat.
• Cook pasta according to instructions, drain and return to pot.
• Crumble cooled prosciutto with your hands to create shards.
• Toss pasta with sauce and divide into four bowls.
• Garnish with parmesan cheese and crispy prosciutto and serve with crusty Italian bread.

FABULOUS PENNE A LA VODKA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan; when hot, saute the onions until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes to the saucepan.
• Stir in the oregano, basil, salt and pepper and simmer 1 hour to concentrate flavors.
• While the sauce is cooking, heat 4 T of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the mushrooms and hot pepper flakes until the mushrooms are golden.
• Carefully add the vodka and simmer for 5 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
• Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer; pour the cream mixture into the tomato puree; stir to mix. Keep the sauce warm while cooking the pasta.
• Add the kosher salt to 6 quarts of water. Bring to a rolling boil. Add pasta to boiling water; cook uncovered until pasta is al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain well.
• Melt the remaining 4 T of butter in a large skillet. Stir in pasta to glaze, then add Parmesan cheese and mix thoroughly. Stir in 1/3 or the sauce and mix with the pasta; divide among plates. Top each plate with some additional sauce; pass remaining sauce and additional cheese at the table.

PENNE A LA VODKA II

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook garlic in olive oil until tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, breaking up a bit with fork. Stir in basil, salt and pepper and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in vodka and cook 15 minutes more.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Stir cream into sauce and cook 10 minutes more. Toss with hot pasta.