DISH RESEARCH · Sauce

Vodka sauce

Holly Nilsson’s selected vodka sauce cooks pancetta and garlic with whole and crushed tomatoes, vodka and heavy cream, then finishes with Parmesan and parsley.

About Vodka sauce

Research draft based on the references below. These notes describe particular recipes and presentations; ingredient connections are still being reviewed.

Holly Nilsson’s vodka sauce combines tomatoes, pancetta, vodka and heavy cream. This selected version follows her olive-oil and Parmesan choices.

The author describes a rich, creamy sauce with tang from tomatoes. Heavy cream mellows that tang, while pancetta contributes a salty accent.

The whole canned tomatoes are broken up by hand with their juices reserved. Onion is softened in olive oil, followed by pancetta and then garlic; vodka is added and briefly boiled uncovered.

The same broken tomatoes and juices join the crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes. After an uncovered simmer, heavy cream is stirred in and the sauce simmers until thickened.

The saucepan is removed from the heat before Parmesan and parsley are stirred in. Salt and pepper adjust the mixture to taste; the author offers a little sugar if it tastes too acidic.

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Dish type: Sauce
Preparation: Read the preparation
Break up the whole canned tomatoes by hand in a bowl, reserving their juices. Soften diced onion in the selected olive oil, cook the selected pancetta until some fat renders, then add minced garlic until fragrant. Add vodka and boil briefly uncovered. Stir in the same broken tomatoes and juices, the separate crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes; simmer uncovered. Stir in heavy whipping cream and simmer until thickened. Remove from the heat, then stir in the selected Parmesan, grated from a block, and chopped parsley. Season the same mixture with salt and pepper to taste, with an optional pinch of sugar if it tastes too acidic.

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Ingredients in Vodka sauce

Recorded ingredient connections, rather than a complete recipe. Explore an ingredient for more detail.

Ingredient connections are still being added.

Ingredient connections awaiting review. Versions and preparation vary.

Origins & food traditions

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Associations in the cited sources

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Cooking traditions: Italian

Sources & references

Vodka Sauce