Vodka pasta

Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 anchovies, plus anchovy oil
• Dried chilli flakes, to taste
• 70 g tomato paste
• ¼ cup (60 ml) vodka
• 800 g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 1 litre chicken stock
• 100 g Parmigiana Reggiano, finely grated, plus extra for finishing
• 100 g Pecorino, finely grated
• 50-100 ml cream
• 500 g paccheri (large rigatoni), or casarecce
• ¼ small bunch flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, to serve
• Chicken schnitzel, to serve

Instructions

1. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring, until golden and almost crisp. Stir through the anchovies and some of the anchovy oil and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add a pinch of chilli flakes and fry briefly, then add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for a further 2 minutes. Pour in the vodka and bring to a light simmer.
2. Stir through the chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then simmer for 30-40 minutes. The sauce should be rich, thick and tasty. Add half of the cheeses to the pasta sauce, followed by the cream and mix well to combine.
3. In a second large saucepan, cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then reserve some pasta water and drain. Return the drained pasta to the same pan and pour in half the prepared vodka sauce with the remaining cheese and mix well to combine, adding a splash of pasta water if it needs it.
4. Transfer the vodka pasta to a large serving plate and pour over more sauce. Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve with chicken schnitzel on the side, if desired.

Note

• The vodka not only helps create flavout: the ethanol content in the alcohol helps the tomatoes, cream and fat form a smoother emulsion as it simmers, making for a richer tasting mouthfeel.
• Julian suggests serving this with a side of your favourite schnitzel and a heaping of finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

Want more from The Cook Up? Stream all the seasons here and for free at SBS On Demand.