It has been hard to go a single day on social media without seeing a TikTok or Instagram photo about Gigi Hadid’s “famous” spicy vodka pasta. And during a random night during my winter break, I finally decided to succumb to the trend. I was skeptical at first, because I’m not the biggest fan of spicy foods. However, I am here to say this is one of the best (and easiest) pasta dishes I have ever made. While it certainly takes more work than boiling water and opening a jar of tomato sauce, this delicious dish will impress any guest and is a simple task for even a mediocre chef like myself. This is also a great recipe to know since many of the ingredients are probably in your (or your family’s) pantry. Here is a play-by-play of how to make it!
Ingredients (for 2 servings)
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1/2 pound of pasta (Gigi suggests shells, but any type would work)
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¼ cup olive oil
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¼ onion (I used a white onion, and used slightly more than ¼)
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2 cloves garlic, diced (minced garlic works here, too)
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¼ cup tomato paste
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½ cup heavy cream
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1 tsp red pepper flakes (I used a little less than this)
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1 tbsp vodka
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1 tbsp butter
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¼ cup parmesan cheese (bagged or freshly grated)
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Basil, for topping
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Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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In a large pan, heat olive oil over a medium flame. Add diced onion and minced garlic and cook until soft and translucent.
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Simultaneously, bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil and cook pasta. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water to add to the sauce before serving. This will slightly thin it out.
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Add tomato paste and allow it to combine and caramelize (it should become a bit darker in color).
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Add in heavy cream and combine. The sauce should become a pinkish-orange color. Allow to bubble slightly so the heavy cream can thicken the mixture.
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Once thickened, add vodka and allow to cook until alcohol evaporates–approximately 5 minutes.
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Add salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Each of these ingredients can be modified to accommodate individual preferences.
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Next, add butter and reserved pasta water. To ensure the sauce doesn’t get too thin, add the excess water in small quantities until desired consistency is achieved.
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Add pasta and grated parmesan to the pan and slowly fold together the mixture.
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Serve with basil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top. Enjoy!