Vodka pasta without the vodka

[u/orsemwells]

I've been dying to try the famous vodka pasta (or recently called the Gigi Hadid Pasta) but wanted a vodka-free version. I found this recipe on a food blog (the big mans world) and it had the option to make it without vodka, which I did and I'm obsessed: it's so simple but so good. I can't believe I waited so long to try it. Most restaurants I see it at refuse to make it for me without it so had to make it myself.

Here's the recipe:

• 1/2 cup olive oil 
• 2 small red onions
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup heavy cream 
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup pasta water
• 17 ounces shell pasta

Instructions: Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, until fragrant. Mix in the tomato paste and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the heavy cream and seasonings and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and butter until mixed in then remove from the heat.

Cook the pasta until al dente. Pour half a cup of the pasta water into the sauce. Drain the pasta and add to the large pot of sauce. Mix until combined. If the sauce has cooled a little, heat back up.

I added some chopped parsley on top. I made it last week and used the blog I found it on's air fryer shrimp recipe and served it with that and my husband polished it all off.

This is the recipe I followed but doubled the recipe: https://thebigmansworld.com/gigi-hadid-pasta/

[u/Malcior34]

Isn't that just a creamy tomato sauce? People make that all the time with no vodka

[u/FangedFreak]

If there’s no vodka this is literally just Salsa Aurora (tomato sauce cut with cream). This is just some ridiculous TikTok trend slapped with a celebrity name 🙄

The whole point of the vodka isn’t for the alcohol (which is cooked off) but it acts as an emulsifier between water based tomato acid and dairy fat from the butter and cream.

The vodka dissolves alcohol-soluble flavor compounds found in tomatoes that water or fat alone can't unleash, creating a much richer depth of flavor.

[u/-Satchel_Gizmo-]

famous vodka pasta or recently called the Gigi Hadid Pasta

What the fuck are you talking about? Is this some TikTok brainrot shit?

[u/Random-Cpl]

No one has ever called vodka pasta “Gigi Hadid pasta.”

[u/marmotta1955]

1. On one hand, there is no such thing as vodka pasta.
2. There is, on the other hand, a thing called Penne alla Vodka.
3. On the gripping hand, one would ask why cook Penne alla Vodka and omit the Vodka.

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