• Home
  • MUSIC
  • RECIPES
  • TV / POP CULTURE
  • TRAVEL
  • THE SPORTING LIFE
  • About

All Small Things Considered.com

~ Because it's the little things that make your day

All Small Things Considered.com

Tag Archives: Vodka Sauce

Best Tomato Sauce Ever (Vol. III)

25 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by Leah in RECIPES, TRAVEL, TV / POP CULTURE

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, J-Date, Match.com, Nick & Toni's, Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola, Rachael Ray, Vodka Sauce

 

IMG_9258

Why am I still single if I can make this sumptuous, irresistible tomato sauce?  Let me explain. Years ago, a friend gave me the recipe for Rachael Ray’s “You Won’t Be Single For Long Vodka Sauce,” which promises that if you make her sauce for a guy, he’s sure to pop the question.  Um, still waiting. Then I went to Nick & Toni’s in NYC and had their version, called Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola, and after discovering the recipe online, I am now convinced I will land a prince.  A gorgeous, food-loving, Jewish prince at that!  It’s that good, and the best vodka sauce I’ve ever had, hands down.

If you can’t get to Nick & Toni’s, make it at home. (Thank you, Barefoot Contessa!) While it needs to bake in the oven for an hour and a half and yes, there’s a heck of a lot of cream, its comforting aromas and super-concentrated spicy/sweet flavor will more than make up for the extra calories and cooking time.  This is the third of my three-part “Best Tomato Sauce Ever” posts, yet it might be the first thing I’ll note if I ever join Match.com. (“Or J-Date!” my mother just screamed.)

Nick & Toni’s Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola

Adapted from Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa

  • 1/4 cup good olive oil
  • 1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic, diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 cup vodka
  • 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled plum tomatoes (San Marzano are best)
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 pound penne pasta
  • 4 tablespoons fresh oregano
  • 3/4 to 1 cup heavy cream (Feel free to use half ‘n half for a slightly less rich taste)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus a little more for presentation

Unknown-1                    Unknown

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof saute pan over medium heat, add the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the red pepper flakes and dried oregano and cook for 1 minute more. Add the vodka and continue cooking until the mixture is reduced by half.  Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes through a sieve and crush them into the pan with your hands. Add 2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of black pepper. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and place it in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.

Place the tomato mixture in a blender and puree in batches until the sauce is a smooth consistency. Return to the pan.  Reheat the sauce, add 2 tablespoons fresh oregano and enough cream to make the sauce a creamy consistency. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for 10 minutes. Toss the pasta into the sauce and cook for 2 minutes more. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan. Serve with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh oregano on each plate.  Good luck!

Serves 4-5

(small photos courtesy of Alexandracooks.com – a great foodie website)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories

  • MUSIC
  • RECIPES
  • THE SPORTING LIFE
  • TRAVEL
  • TV / POP CULTURE

Archives

  • February 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014

Blogs I Follow

  • Around the Block
  • All Small Things Considered.com
  • DuJour
  • Surviving Grady
  • A Year to Think
  • Roar of the Tigers
  • Vulture
  • i am a food blog

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Around the Block

All Small Things Considered.com

Because it's the little things that make your day

DuJour

Because it's the little things that make your day

Surviving Grady

Because it's the little things that make your day

A Year to Think

Because it's the little things that make your day

Roar of the Tigers

Detroit baseball for strange people.

Vulture

Because it's the little things that make your day

i am a food blog

Because it's the little things that make your day

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • All Small Things Considered.com
    • Join 47 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • All Small Things Considered.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: