Penne Alla Bettola

Photo: flickr user Alanmine

Ingredients

4 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil

4 Plump fresh garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon Hot red pepper flakes, or to taste

Sea salt

28 ounces (765g) can Italian plum tomatoes in juice

1 pound (500g) penne pasta

8 ounces fl (250 ml) double cream

2 tablespoons Vodka

1 ounce (30g) chopped parsley

Preparation

In an unheated frypan large enough to hold the pasta later on, combine the oil, garlic, crushed red peppers, and a pinch of salt, stirring to coat with the oil. Cook over moderate heat just until garlic turns golden but does not brown - 2-3 mins. Add tomatoes and crush them. Stir to blend and simmer uncovered until the sauce begins to thicken, about 15 mins. Taste for seasoning.

Meanwhile cook pasta in normal fashion until al dente.

Add the drained pasta to the tomato sauce, toss, add the vodka, toss again, then add the cream and toss. Cover, reduce the heat to low and let rest for 1-2 mins so that the pasta can absorb the sauce. Add the parsley and toss again.

Traditionally cheese is not served with this dish.

I add slices of a salami type sausage to this recipe.

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