SPICY VODKA PASTA WITH BURRATA

I am currently obsessed with the depth that vodka adds to pasta sauces, and with a little bit of vodka still left over from previous cooking sessions I simply had to make this spicy take on vodka pasta with lots Calabrian chilli paste and added with Burrata.

On paper this seem like a super simple pasta supper but OH MY! It really was one of the best pasta and sauce combos I have ever made! 

Slightly sweet, wonderfully spicy, creamy and with lots and lots of slowly cooked silky onions, it is a true showstopper that I literally have been thinking about making it again ever since I polished off a big plate of it last Friday!

The sort of recipe that will become signature dish of yours, trust me on this one!

SERVES 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can cherry tomatoes, whole
• 1.5 tbsp. salt (more to taste)
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp. Calabrian chilli paste (I got mine from EATALY but any good Italian deli should have some) 
• 3 tbsp. vodka
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1/2 – 1 cup double cream
• 400 grams pasta of your choice
• 1 ball of burrata, torn

METHOD

• Make the onion soubise: heat the butter over low heat in a saucepan, then add the onions and water and season with a pinch of salt. 
• Cook for ~15 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally, to melt the onions – you want them soft and translucent but you do not want to add any color or browning to them. 
• While the onions are cooking, combine the tomatoes, salt, sugar, olive oil, Calabrian chili paste, vodka, butter, and cream in a large saucepan, heat to a boil then lower to medium-low heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• While the sauce is simmering, boil pasta in a pot of well-salted water and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. 
• Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain pasta and set aside.
• Add the onion soubise to the sauce and stir until well combined, taste and add more salt, chili paste or cream as desired.
• Add the cooked pasta and 2 tbsp of pasta water, tossing to coat and if needed, adding more pasta water 2 tbsp at a time to achieve desired sauce consistency.
• Serve in warm bowls and enjoy!