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What is Penne Alla Vodka?
Penne Alla Vodka is one of the most popular dishes in Italian-American cuisine. It is a type of pasta consisting of penne pasta and vodka sauce.
Typical ingredients for the vodka sauce include vodka, tomatoes, cream, and onions. This results in a pink-looking sauce that is rich and creamy.
What's interesting is that the vodka acts as an emulsifier so that the tomatoes and cream are mixed together smoothly with the water. Plus, the vodka helps to bring out (solvate) more subtle flavors of the tomatoes.
You may be wondering if any other alcoholic beverages like wine could be used instead to achieve the same. Well, that is definitely true, but the advantage of using vodka is that its flavor won't be as noticeable. In other words, the little amount of vodka won't interfere with the taste of the main ingredients.
Oh, and, speaking of the alcohol, don't worry, you can't actually get drunk or something from eating Penne Alla Vodka. That's because most if not all of the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process. In fact, it's safe even for children to enjoy this wonderful dish.
Where did Penne Alla Vodka originate from?
The origin of Penne Alla Vodka is a matter of debate. On the one hand, there are people claiming that it came from Italy. On the other hand, some believe that it was invented in America i.e. New York.
That being said, let's take a look at both sides of the story. The Italian origin of the dish or rather the vodka sauce goes back to the 1970s. First, we have to mention Pasquale Bruno Jr. who wrote the book "The Ultimate Pasta Cookbook." According to him, the first vodka sauce was originally created in a restaurant in Bologna called Dante.
However, the cookbook "Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Italian" states that a certain Roman chef was the inventor of the vodka sauce. Apparently, he worked for a vodka company that wanted to promote its drink in Italy. And so, mixing it with pasta was a great marketing solution of sorts.
In both cases, the vodka sauce is said to be an Italian invention first and foremost. And this is also noted by Barbara Kafka in her book "Food for Friends."
As for the American side of the debate, we have two different stories as well. One appoints Luigi Franzese who was a chef at the Orsini Restaurant in New York. His daughter, Paula, asserts that he created the Penne Alla Vodka dish while he was working there during the 1970s.
The other and more prominent claim revolves around James Doty. He was a graduate of Columbia University and is believed to have invented the Penne Alla Vodka in the 1980s. This is according to food historians.
As you can see, the origins of Penne Alla Vodka are a bit mysterious. But what's as clear as day is that pretty much anyone is a fan of this dish. And if you ask us, that's what matters the most.
Penne Alla Vodka Fun Facts
To show you just how beloved Penne Alla Vodka is, here are some fun facts:
- Penne Alla Vodka is the second most looked-up pasta dish on search engines in the United States. It only falls behind Pasta Alla Bolognese. And other notable listings have it in the top 5 of most popular pasta dishes in America.
- Back in the 1980s, Penne Alla Moscovita became a popular dish in the nightclubs of the Emilia-Romagna Riviera in Italy. This was a dish similar to Penne Alla Vodka and in fact, it was referred to as just that.
- On October 25, 2016, a World Pasta Day celebration took place in Moscow. The Italian Association of Confectionery and Pasta Industries used this as an opportunity to once more propose Penne Alla Moscovita. Their goal was to have it symbolize the harmony between Italy and Russia.
- In 1974, Ugo Tognazzi, an Italian actor, created a cookbook called "L'Abbuffone." In it, he featured a dish named "pasta all'infuriata" or "furious pasta." This was the first recorded pasta dish to include (a shot of) vodka as part of its ingredients.
Are there any variants of Penne Alla Vodka?
The answer to that question is - yes. Thing is, both penne pasta and vodka sauce are versatile enough to combine with other food items:
- Chicken Penne Pasta
- Lobster with Vodka Sauce
- Shrimp Pasta Alla Vodka
- Spicy Pasta Alla Vodka - Made popular by Gigi Hadid, this one comes with red chili flakes as an extra "secret" ingredient.
- Vegan Penne Alla Vodka
- Gluten-free Penne Alla Vodka
Nutritional Value of Penne Alla Vodka
In a serving size of 471g, there are about 545 calories in Penne Alla Vodka. This includes 18g or 28% of total fat, 14mg (5%) cholesterol, 256mg (11%) sodium, and 565mg (16%) potassium. Also, there are 75g or 25% of total carbohydrates and 15g of protein.
As for vitamins, we got 24% vitamin A, 48% vitamin C, as well as 10% of calcium. These daily value percentages are based on a 2000-calorie diet.
Penne Alla Vodka Restaurant Recommendation
Having read all this information on Penne Alla Vodka, we bet you'd love to get some right away. And this is where Slice comes in. We're here to connect you with restaurants that make outstanding Penne Alla Vodka. Whether you'd prefer to dine in an eatery near you or order takeout or delivery - we got you covered, wherever you are.
On that note, if you'd like to try some of the best Penne Alla Vodka in New York, we strongly suggest Fresco's Pizzeria! They're open 7 days a week, and you can find them at 804 W 187th St. Or how about Chicago? Well, if you're in the Windy City, a great place to get mouthwatering Penne Alla Vodka is Tutto Fresco. Located on 2901 N Ashland Ave, they even include great deals and coupons.
And one more suggestion from us, we introduce to you - Pizza Nation in Las Vagas. This fantastic restaurant offers some of the most delicious Penne Alla Vodka in the whole of Nevada. So, if you're around, make sure to give it a try.
