Penne Alla Vodka

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Penne Alla Vodka

Ingredients : Mise En Place

Pancetta 2oz small diced

Shallots 1 ½  minced

Garlic 3 cloves minced

Plum Tomatoes 2 small diced seeds removed

Red Bell Pepper ½ small diced

Half and Half 4 fl oz

Vodka 6 fl oz

Tomato Sauce 8 fl oz

Penne Pasta 1lb

Butter 1 tbsp

Olive Oil 1tbsp

Salt

Sugar*

Optional

Pecorino Romano

Garlic Crumbs*

Directions

Begin by adding a tbsp of olive oil to a pan, add the pancetta and render the fat crisping the bits in the process. While going through this process bring a pot of water to a boil with salt. Remove the majority of the pancetta from your pan, using the rendered fat begin to sauté the shallots, garlic, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Add the vodka to this mixture once the vegetables have been cooked. Begin to cook the penne. Reduce the vodka to a near sec* and add the tomato sauce, bring to a simmer. Add room temp half and half to the tomato mixture. Re-season the sauce as needed, add butter and grated pecorino. Toss in the cooked penne along with a sprinkle of the pasta water*.  Serve and garnish with crispy pancetta, pecorino cheese, and toasted garlic crumbs.

Notes:

Sugar- can be used to adjust acidity when cooking a pinch goes a long way

Reduce to a sec- these means that your liquid is near dry, the flavor here is super concentrated. Consistency can almost be syrup like.

Pasta Water- pasta release starch when cooked using this during the saucing process helps coat your pasta better.