I tried Ina Garten's penne alla vodka, and it's one of the best pasta dishes I've ever made

Anneta KonstantinidesDec 7, 2022, 17:45 IST

I recently made Ina Garten's penne alla vodka, and it blew me away.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I love making Ina Garten's pasta dishes, and recently tried her penne alla vodka recipe.
Garten roasts her pasta sauce in the oven, infusing the dish with so much flavor.

I've been cooking my way through Ina Garten's pasta recipes.

Me digging into Ina Garten's lemon pasta.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Garten's penne alla vodka was inspired by one of her favorite dishes.

Ina Garten's penne alla vodka is inspired by a restaurant from East Hampton.Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Garten's penne alla vodka features many ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

Garten's dish features penne, vodka, and whole-peeled tomatoes.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Before I began cooking, I did some quick veggie prep.

First I chopped my onions.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I added the olive oil to my Dutch oven and threw in the onions.

I cooked my onions for about five minutes.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Once my onions were ready, I added the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes.

I cooked everything for another minute.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I added the vodka.

I let my onions and vodka simmer for about five minutes.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Next I threw in the whole-peeled plum tomatoes.

I crushed the whole-peeled plum tomatoes with my hands.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I seasoned the sauce with salt and pepper and then covered my pot.

I seasoned my tomato mixture with two teaspoons of salt, and some pepper.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I threw my covered pot into the oven, which was set at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

I baked my tomato mixture for one-and-a-half hours.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Just before my sauce was ready, I began cooking my pasta.

I cooked my penne until it was al dente.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Once my sauce was out of the oven, I threw it in the blender.

After my tomato mixture was ready, I threw it in the blender.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I poured my tomato mixture back into the Dutch oven.

My puréed tomato mixture.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I added the fresh oregano and heavy cream.

Then I added heavy cream and fresh oregano to my sauce.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I stirred my tomato mixture and watched the color transform.

The heavy cream changed the color of the sauce.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I partially covered my Dutch oven and let the sauce simmer.

Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Once my sauce was ready, I threw in the pasta.

Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I took my Dutch oven off the heat and stirred in the Parmesan cheese.

I also added plenty of cheese.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

As I topped everything with extra Parmesan and oregano, I couldn't help but admire the dish.

Garten's penne alla vodka had the most beautiful color.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

And as I dug in, I knew this was one of the best pastas I've ever made.

Each bite was creamy, smooth, and delicious.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Garten's penne alla vodka is the perfect easy dish for winter.

I can't wait to make Garten's penne alla vodka again.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I'm a chef. I compared boxed macaroni and cheese from 5 brands, and there are a few I'd consider buying again.

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