Adapted from Nick & Toni’s Penne Alla Vecchia Bettola. See original recipe and video here.
- 4 tablespoons olive oil (I use 1-2 tablespoons)
- 1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, roughly minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled plum tomatoes (SM & Muir Glen are my two favorite brands)
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons fresh oregano
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- Grated Parmesan cheese (I add a few tablespoons to the sauce and sprinkle more on top of each serving).
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
- Preheat oven to 375-F.
- Heat the olive oil in a large oven proof saute pan over medium heat, add the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent.
- Add the red pepper flakes and dried oregano and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the vodka and continue cooking until the mixture is reduced by half.
- Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes through a sieve and crush them into the pan with your hands.
- Add kosher salt and a pinch of black pepper. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid and place it in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Place the tomato mixture in a blender (or use an immersion blender) and puree in batches until the sauce is a smooth consistency. Return to the pan.
- Reheat the sauce, add 2 tablespoons fresh oregano and enough heavy cream to make the sauce a creamy consistency. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for 10 minutes. Toss the pasta into the sauce and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan. Serve with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh oregano on each plate.
