Vodka Pasta with Sausage

4.27 from 38 votes

A rich and creamy vodka pasta with sausage that’s ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that feels restaurant worthy.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Course: Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: servings

Calories: 764kcal

Author: Carrie Carvalho

Equipment

Large frying pan
Pasta Pot

Ingredients

400 grams pork sausage Ideally Fennel or Italian Style*
250 grams your favourite pasta shapes I love Mezzi Rigatoni or Penne for this recipe
360 ml tomato passata
80 ml double or heavy cream
2 banana shallots or small white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic diced
3 tbsp vodka
2 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan plus extra to serve
salt and pepper
chilli flakes or red pepper flakes optional
chopped basil or parsley optional, to serve

Metric - US Measures

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the diced shallot plus a generous pinch of salt and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
2 banana shallots , 2 tbsp olive oil
Slit and peel the skins from the sausages. Add the sausage meat to the pan and break it up with the back of a spoon to very small pieces. Stir occasionally until the meat is browned all over.
400 grams pork sausage
Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes until fragrant, then pour over the passata. Give it a stir then turn the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
2 cloves garlic, 360 ml tomato passata
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to packet instructions - you want it to be al dente, so aim for the lower end of the timing on the packet.
250 grams your favourite pasta shapes
Add the vodka. Allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes, then stir in the cream.
3 tbsp vodka , 80 ml double or heavy cream
Let it simmer very gently on the lowest heat for another 3-4minutes. The sauce should darken a little and you should no longer be able to smell the vodka.
Drain the pasta (reserve a few tablespoons of the pasta water) and stir into the sauce. Add the grated parmesan and stir well. Use some of the reserved pasta water if you feel you need to loosen the sauce a little. Add salt and pepper to taste if desired.
salt and pepper
Serve with a sprinkling of chilli flakes, extra grated parmesan and some fresh chopped basil or parsley.
chilli flakes or red pepper flakes , chopped basil or parsley, ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan

Notes

*If you can't find fennel or Italian sausage then you can use any good-quality pork sausages.

Nutrition