This epic and creamy rigatoni alla vodka is beautiful, and topped up a notch with whipped ricotta underneath! Dreamy!
Ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil,
garlic cloves, shallots, chili flakes, tomato paste, vodka, heavy cream, rigatoni, butter
Prep your garlic and shallot, mince and set aside. Next, make your whipped ricotta. In a blender or food processor, add in your ricotta, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package for al dente. Make sure to set aside 1 cup + of pasta water.
In the meantime, while your water is boiling and pasta is cooking. Take another skillet or shallow pot and sweat out your garlic and shallot with a drizzle of olive oil.
Add in your chili flakes and let the spices bloom for 1-2 minutes. Next add in your tomato paste and mix, another few minutes until the tomato paste is cooked down. Add in your vodka and reduce.
Once reduced, add in heavy cream and mix all together.
When your pasta is finished, add it in with your butter and parmesan. Adjust with your pasta water as needed.
Mix well until combined. Layer on your whipped ricotta in a bowl, and add your rigatoni on top with a drizzle of olive oil, pepper, fresh basil leaves and more freshly shaved parmesan.