"PenneAllaVodka" news and stories

Penne alla Vodka is one of those classic Italian-American dishes that is not only delicious, but easy to make. My only complaint with this dish is that in most versions you don't taste the vodka. Most recipes I've seen only use 1/4 cup of vodka. That's fine, but not enough to warrant calling it "alla vodka" in my book, since you only get a hint of the spirit in the sauce.

I like to taste the sparkling cleanness and the spicy bite of the vodka throughout the sauce. I think it helps to balance (and lighten) the rich, creaminess. I like Rachael Ray's recipe because she is not afraid to use enough vodka to give the sauce a nice, vodka-y flavor without overwhelming it.