Best Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Vodka Pasta)
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 pan
- 1 cutting board
- 1 Chef's knife
- 1 wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 8 oz Orecchiette or shell pasta, fusilli, penne, farfalle (bowtie), or conchiglie. HEALTHY OPTIONS: Whole wheat pasta, or low carb pasta (If on a keto diet) or gluten-free pasta (if on a gluten-free diet)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil ORIGINAL: ¼ cup olive oil is too much
- ¼ red onion small diced (or 3 shallots, minced)
- 3 cloves of garlic minced (ORIGINAL: 1 small clove of garlic, diced)
- ¼ cup tomato paste NOT TOMATO SAUCE
- ½ cup heavy cream you may replace it with half-and-half to cut down on the fat
- 1 tablespoon vodka YOU CAN SKIP IT
- Fresh basil leaves Use about 6 small leaves for the sauce and a few more for garnish. Many recipes call for chiffonade or chopped basil but the basil scent and flavor come from the oils. By chopping the leaves, you expose more of the oils to the air. The ideal is to use SMALL whole leaves for sauces.
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more for a spicier pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter you can omit it to cut down on the fat
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ORIGINAL: ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Make sure to follow the directions in the package. When the pasta is done (al dente), save ½ cup of the pasta water before draining instead of ¼ cup in the original recipe. More of the starchy pasta water will make the sauce saucier. Set aside!
- Make the sauce: Meanwhile, heat a large saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, and cook the onion (or shallots) until soft. Then add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it appears “darker in color and a bit caramelized”, says Gigi Hadid.
- Add in the heavy cream and then the vodka (optional). Cook until vodka has evaporated (about 2 minutes). NOTE: For extra flavor, you may add a few small leaves of basil to the sauce at this point!
- Add in salt and pepper to taste, and also the red pepper flakes. Keep stirring until combined and the sauce is mostly creamy and thickened.
- Right before adding the pasta, add in the butter. Stir over low heat until the butter has melted.
- Add the cooked pasta – and the pasta water – to the sauce.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Make sure the pasta is fully coated with the sauce.
- Serve this spicy vodka pasta topped with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and basil to garnish. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.