Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka
INGREDIENTS:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1–2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup vodka
- ¾ cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream or canned coconut milk
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- ¼ cup fresh basil roughly chopped
DIRECTIONS:
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Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. When the oil shimmers, add the shallot, garlic, and oregano. Cook until the shallots begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes, cook 4-5 minutes, until thickened. Stir in the vodka, cook another 2 minutes. Stir in the pesto and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, remove 1 ½ cups of the pasta cooking water. Drain.
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To the vodka sauce, add the pasta, ½ cup pasta cooking water, and the butter, tossing until the butter has melted. Add the Parmesan and basil. If needed, thin the sauce with additional pasta cooking water.
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Divide the pasta among plates and top with basil and cheese. Enjoy!
© Recipe courtesy of Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest.
FEBRUARY WINE CLUB:

Bodegas Pascual
Heredad de Peñalosa
Tinto Joven
Ribera del Duero, Spain
BOLD WINE STYLE
This unoaked, Ribera del Duero, young red wine is clean, deep, intense cherry red in color. On the nose, there are very intense aromas of red fruit along with very well-integrated light lactic tones. Mulberries, raspberries and strawberries provide the nose with a complex fan of very clear scents. On the palate, the wine has a silky and clean entrance, full of sweetness with fresh hints that wash the palate. It is very powerful, long, fine and complex.
Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
Denominación de Origen (DO): Ribera Del Duero, Spain
Serving Recommendation: The ideal serving temperature is from 62.6ºF-68ºF
ABOUT THE WINERY:
The Pascual family’s philosophy and work with wines began in the fourteenth century in their historic winery situated in the Burgos town of Fuentelcésped. Over the years, the family’s ancestors dedicated their artisan talents and wisdom towards extracting the juice from their vineyards, turning it into what they called, “the drink of the gods”. Bodegas Pascual was officially founded in 1986, in Fuentelcésped – the province belonging to the DO Ribera del Duero. “Heredad de Peñalosa” became their first commercial brand – that paved the way for their other wine brands to later be produced. Learn more about the winery and its vineyards here.
Information © Bodegas Pascual – All Rights Reserved.
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