Break out the red wine and indulge in this easy but delicious Valentine’s Day date night pasta recipe. This delicious creamy pink sauce is the perfect addition to any v-day menu, and is the perfect excuse to shake things up for a bit and try your hand at being a home chef.
I don’t know about you, but every year when Valentine’s Day rolls around, I’m at a loss for what to do.
It always sneaks up on us, and I feel like everyone around us is torn over whether or not to celebrate it.
Half of my friends go all out, while the other half don’t even think twice about it.
For me, I like to keep it simple but intentional. It is a special occasion after all.
And that, surprise surprise, usually involves some form of cooking together, a special meal, or romantic pasta dinners.
In my house, I’m the cook, and my fiancé is the cleaner.
But on Valentine’s Day, we make a cozy night for ourselves and both do each activity together.
Now naturally, that means that the meal that we make would be on the easier side.
And what’s easier than a delicious vodka sauce pasta?
It’s truly one of my favorite Valentine’s Day dinner ideas.
Why?
For one, it’s so easy to make.
You can make it with a premade jar of marinara if you’d like, or you can make it from scratch using a few simple ingredients.
That’s right, you won’t see any lobster tails or slow roasted short ribs in this pasta dish.
(I mean, you can add them if you’d like. But the simple sauce speaks for itself here)
However you decide to make it, it’s one of the easiest Valentine’s Day pasta recipes, the perfect excuse to indulge, and a fun recipe to make together.
And a lot cooler than dinner reservations!
Here’s the best way to make this simple vodka sauce date night pasta recipe.
Here’s What You’ll Need
For The Tomato Sauce (optional):
Whole Peeled Tomatoes: I like San Marzano the best!
Tomato Paste: One tiny can of tomato paste will do the trick just fine.
Onions: I use one tiny onion with my vodka sauce, and it comes out perfectly each time
Garlic: Where there’s onions, there needs to be garlic.
Pasta: Use your favorite pasta shape! Personally, I feel as though rigatoni is the perfect addition to any romantic dinner. Of course, no one says you can’t ball out and use something decadent like lobster ravioli if you’d like.
For The Vodka Sauce:
Vodka: Obviously
Heavy Cream: Use your favorite!
Grated Romano Cheese: You can use parmesan cheese if you’d like, but my personal favorite is Romano.
How To Make It:
There are a few different methods to making this simple and easy date night pasta recipe. Remember, no matter how you decide to make this, always be sure to use some high quality ingredients. Splurging on some homemade pasta (or even making it yourself) or getting some finer cheeses to use will always kick your dish up a notch.
If Making The Sauce:
Take some whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, open the can, and squish the tomatoes with your hands. You can also use a food processor if you’d like. Set to the side.
In a large pot over medium heat, take your diced onion and olive oil and begin to saute until fragrant. Once fragrant and slightly translucent, add your garlic and stir constantly to avoid burning.
Add a dash of vodka, but carefully and slowly to avoid any avid flames from the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the vodka burns off.
Pour the tomato puree into the pot, along with your can of tomato paste. Fill up the empty tomato paste can, and add equal parts water (If using a tomato paste tube, measure out the amount of added paste and convert to water measurements). Season with salt and pepper and simmer on low with the cover on the pot for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, stir the sauce, being sure to touch the bottom of the pot, and add in your heavy cream and some grated Romano cheese. Simmer for another 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce is thick enough to your liking.
Boil a large pot of salted water, and cook your pasta until al dente. Personally, I like using rigatoni.
Toss some sauce into your rigatoni, or add it directly to the sauce if you’d like. Mix it together, plate it, and serve immediately.
If Using Jarred Sauce:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, add your vodka to the pan, and let it cook for a few minutes until the alcohol burns off.
Add your tomato sauce directly to the pan, set the heat to low, and let simmer for 10 minutes or until the sauce starts to bubble.
After 10 or so minutes, add your heavy cream and grated cheese. Stir to combine, and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and add in your pasta of choice. Drain the pasta, and add it directly to the sauce.
Serve immediately!
FAQs:
Q: What brand of jarred tomato sauce do you recommend?
A: We make our own, and ship it all over the United States! It’s the perfect way to enjoy tomato sauce that was made with love, but makes your own life easier. Give it a shot!
Q: I don’t have any vodka on hand. What can I use to replace it?
A: A really nice white wine would be delicious with this sauce. If you’re alcohol free, ditch the alcohol altogether and proceed as normal with a creamy pasta sauce—it will still have plenty of rich flavor!
Q: What kind of meat should I serve with this?
A: Anything you’d like! If you want to do it like the fancy restaurants do, you can cook some pancetta in the pan before the vodka goes in. Just make sure you remove the grease from the pan before you continue on with your dish. If pancetta isn’t your thing, you can always add some chicken cutlets or even grilled salmon to this dish. Both will be phenomenal!
What To Serve With This Recipe:
Appetizer: Play into the fancy dinner theme and make some bruschetta crostinis. They’re delicious and make for some really easy appetizers.
Side Dish: Anyone knows that a perfectly made chicken cutlet is one of the most romantic foods that you can make come February 14th.
Dessert: Homemade cannoli are the best way to complete a dish, and one of the easiest ways to take your meal from good to mouth watering and delicious.
Valentine’s Day Cocktails To Try:
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Valentine’s Day Date-Night Pasta Recipes For Two
Ingredients
If Making Sauce:
- 1 32 oz can whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 6 oz water
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 oz vodka
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup pecorino Romano cheese
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pepper
- 1 pinch of red pepper flakes (or more if you like a spicy tomato sauce)
- 1 lb pasta of choice
If Using Jarred Sauce:
- 1 jar tomato sauce of choice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 oz vodka
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup pecorino Romano cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 pinch of red pepper flakes (or more if you like a spicy tomato sauce)
- 1 lb pasta of choice
Instructions
- Using a food processor or your hands, crush the San Marzano tomatoes until they’ve made a puree. Set to the side.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat your oil, add your onions, and saute until translucent.
- Once onions are fragrant and translucent, add garlic, stirring constantly until fragrant.
- ***If using jarred tomato sauce, begin the recipe at the next line
- Turn down the heat slightly and slowly add vodka, staying far away from the pan as possible. Let cook for two or so minutes until the alcohol burns off.
- Add the San Marzano tomatoes, can of tomato paste, and equal parts water to tomato paste. Stir well to combine, season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
- Cover the pan with a lid, leaving a tiny bit of the pan uncovered. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- After 15-20 minutes, stir with a wooden spoon, and add heavy cream and Romano cheese. Simmer for another 15 minutes.
- While your sauce is simmering, add a pound of pasta to a large, boiling pot of salted water. Cook until al dente.
- Add your pasta directly to the sauce, mix well, and plate.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil if desired.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to five days. The sauce can be frozen for up to six months.
