Vodka Sauce

Fill a large pot with water, place over high heat and bring to a boil. Add a small handful salt to water and add pasta.

Cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 6 to 8 minutes.

Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water, and set both aside.

Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once skillet is hot add oil and sauté shallots and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes, or until aromatics begin to slightly caramelize.

Add tomato paste and stir together. Continue to stir until paste turns bright red,2 to 3 minutes.

Deglaze skillet with vodka and stir together until vodka evaporates. Add reserved pasta water to skillet and stir together until smooth, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Stir cream into sauce until mixture is smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer together, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in butter and Parmesan and continue to simmer until sauce is smooth, glossy and has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes.

Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss together until fully coated. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with more grated Parmesan and black pepper.

Freeze Ahead:

The pasta can be made, stored in an airtight container and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in refrigerator and stir into heated sauce until completely heated through. To freeze sauce ahead of time, make sauce until it’s time to add cream. Cool completely, then store partially made sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw sauce in refrigerator. Heat sauce in a saucepan until heated through, then stir in cream and simmer. Adjust seasonings before adding pasta and tossing together. Simmer until heated through and serve.