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Updated 12/3/2024

The perfect blend of trendy and traditional

The concept behind this salmon and penne alla vodka recipe borrows from a traditional festive Italian dish and the Italian American pasta favourite. Smoked salmon served with bow tie pasta and a cream sauce made with onion, tomato pureé, wine or vodka and Parmesan cheese is known as farfalle al salmone. It’s customarily served at New Year’s festivities in Italy.

It’s been suggested that penne alla vodka is a poor man’s version of farfalle al salmone without the salmon. And that argument is made in Robert Serrini’s documentary, Disco Sauce: The True Story of Penne Alla Vodka. He attributes Ugo Tognozzi for being the first to spark the concept behind dish. In his cookbook, L’Abuffone: Funny Stories and Recipes to Die For the Italian comedic actor introduces a dish called penne all’infuriata. His spicy pasta recipe uses Polish chili infused vodka, with tomatoes and cream.

The dish would evolve through the 1970s, eventually taking on its catchier name. Penne alla vodka first appeared on a restaurant menu Dante, in Bologa, Italy. While it never caught on in Italy, it was a hit with the 1980s New York after party scene. And today, penne alla vodka is considered a typical Italian American cuisine item.

Preparing the pasta and sauce

For the pasta, you have a few options. Penne comes in smooth (lisce) or rigid (rigate). But, any similar shaped pasta, like rigatoni, pennine or even farfalle, will work just fine. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions and remember to reserve some of the pasta water. It gets added to the sauce later.

It’s the vodka that provides the magic to this sauce. If we were to simply add cream to tomato sauce it would not combine well. Vodka is used as a flavour enhancer and an emulsifier to blend the tomato sauce and the cream into a silky sauce.

The sauce is quite simple to make. Start by sautéing the chopped onion in olive oil, then add the crushed tomatoes and vodka. Let this simmer for a bit to allow the alcohol to cook off. Blend in the cream, bring to a simmer then remove from the heat.

Preparing and blending the salmon

Salmon filets are easiest to use but salmon steaks can also be used in this recipe. Poach the salmon, then remove any skin and bones then break it up by flaking it into bitesize chunks. Stir the flaked salmon and cooked pasta into the sauce, then transfer to the serving plates. Top with sliced smoked salmon and parsley.

Salmon with Penne alla Vodka

Kevin Lamoureux

Poached salmon marries well with penne in a vodka tomato and cream sauce while smoked salmon, fresh tomatoes and basil pack an extra flavour punch.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian American

Servings 4

Calories 415 kcal

Ingredients

8 oz salmon fillets
3 cups uncooked penne
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup white onion finely chopped
1 tsp crushed chili peppers
½ tsp anise seeds
¼ cup vodka
1 cup crushed tomatoes or passata
1 cup light cream 10%
½ tsp salt
1 Roma tomato seeded and chopped
4-6 leaves fresh basil chopped
2 oz smoked salmon cut into thin strips
½ cup fresh parsley chopped for garnish

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.
Add water to a pot with a cover and a steamer basket and bring to a boil.
Add the salmon and poach for about 7-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the filets. They are ready once cooked throughout. Don't overcook them – they should be moist, tender and flaky, not dry.
Transfer the salmon to a plate and remove the skin. With two forks, flake the salmon and set aside.
To a large pot or wok, add the olive oil. Heat to medium and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes or until translucent.
Add the chili pepper and anise to the pot and heat for about 30 seconds.
Add the vodka, crushed tomatoes (passata) and cream. Heat for a couple of minutes until the sauce thickens a little.
Stir in the flaked salmon. Bring to a simmer, just long enough to warm the salmon.
Stir in the butter pasta, chopped tomatoes and basil.
Transfer the mixture to serving plates and top with smoked salmon and garnish with parsley.

Notes

Nutrition

Per serving

Keyword cream, pasta, penne, salmon, vodka

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