If you weren’t living under a rock a few years back then you would know this pasta dish that Gigi Hadid made go viral. And honestly, I’m glad she did make it go viral because it’s so delicious and makes for the perfect easy midweek dinner.

Yes, this dish does have vodka that you will cook eventually cook off, leaving only the vodka flavour but if you cannot consume it, feel free to omit it completely and it would still be just as delicious.

Understanding Your Components

1. Pasta:
   • Rigatoni is required for this recipe. The pasta shape is a hollow tube which holds the sauce perfectly. Alternatives: i’ve tried this recipe with other pasta shapes and it’s still very good. Use what you have on hand if you prefer convenience
   • Cook pasta to al dente in salted water – which means firm to the bite. Follow pasta package instructions to cook your pasta.
   • Reserve some of the pasta water to add to sauce later
2. Sauce: Each component plays a specific role
   • Tomato paste provides intensity and slide acidity
   • Garlic and shallot add sweetness and depth
   • Cream and cheese add richness
   • Vodka enhances flavors. The alcohol will be cooked out leaving just a mild flavour. Omit this completely if you cannot consume alcohol.
   • Chili adds spiciness that cuts through the richness of the dairy.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Best served immediately
• Sauce can be made ahead of time by a few hours. Cook pasta fresh
• Leftover can be store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Ingredients

250g Rigatoni
1 tbs butter
1 shallot
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tbs vodka
1 tbs chilli flakes
200ml heavy cream
1/4 cup pasta water
grated Parmigiano Reggiano (as much as your heart can take)

If you cannot consume alcohol, please feel free to omit the vodka completely and it would still be just as delicious!

Method

Boil your pasta in salted water until al dente

Mince your shallot and garlic cloves, and place into a pan with oil, a nob of butter and tomato paste. Cook the paste for around 2-3 mins on medium heat or until fragrant.

Add vodka to the pan and cook out the alcohol, leaving only a slight vodka flavour. This should take around 2 minutes. Once again, if you cannot consume alcohol, please omit it completely!

Turn off heat or turn it down to low, add in cream, grated cheese and chilli flakes. Turning your heat down so the cream doesn’t boil and split (essentially the milk solids separating and it will look oily and curdly)!

Add in your drained pasta and the pasta water. Stir well. Add in more pasta water if needed to achieve desired texture. Top with more grated cheese and serve.