Have you seen that famous Gigi Hadid pasta recipe, well, it is just penne alla vodka and I will show you how to make the best version of it!
This is not my typical healthy recipe, sorry. This is your classic, full fat version of my favorite dish. If you want something "lightened up" you can check out my instant pot penne alla vodka or my light vodka sauce which is just made on the stovetop.
Gigi Hadid, you may know her as a supermodel or the daughter of one of those real housewives ladies. Well, a while back, she went viral making this spicy vodka sauce. Everyone went crazy for this "Gigi Hadid vodka pasta recipe". But, it is really just a spicy penne alla vodka!
I will leave the name as the Gigi Hadid pasta recipe. I do like her and that is apparently what it is known as now. But, still, it will always be penne alla vodka to me.
Fun fact: my family is OBSESSED with penne alla vodka. When I tell you obsessed, I mean ridiculously beyond crazy obsessed. We can go to an Italian restaurant every night for a good penne vodka dish.
When I tell you we are the biggest penne alla vodka critiques, I MEAN IT. You cannot get a less than perfect sauce pasta us. Which is why I know this will be your favorite penne alla vodka dish.
Tips and Tricks from Allie Carte
- Substitute the vodka with a squeeze of lemon and additional water, if needed.
- If you do not like it spicy, skip the crushed red pepper.
- However, we also love using Italian hot sausage and skipping the crushed red pepper (it is spicy enough)
- Use your favorite pasta shape for this Gigi Hadid pasta recipe
What You Need to Make This
No special cooking gadgets are required. I make the pasta in one pot and then the sauce in a pan on the stove top. That is all you will need in terms of cooking tools.
Then, of course, for the pasta part, you will need pasta. Like I said, I am a penne alla vodka snob so I am using penne. However, you can use any shape that you love.
Next, will be the ingredients for the actual Gigi Hadid pasta sauce recipe, that will be the time consuming part.
- Olive oil
- Shallot
- Garlic clove
- Tomato paste
- Vodka
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red peppers
- Salt
- Pepper
- Parsley
Now, this is typically where I go over some suggestions and substitutions. However, I will preface this by saying I have perfectly crafted this recipe and I follow it to a T. If you are going to make any substitutions, it will not be the same.
Olive Oil
Yes, I am sure you can use a different type of oil; however, I do not. I just use extra virgin olive oil and that is the end of it. I am not sure what Gigi Hadid would have used in her pasta recipe. Avocado oil is super trendy over in LA; however, olive is just fine here in Florida.
Shallot
Okay, this may be where you can make the biggest substitute; however, the shallot really does make a difference. You can substitute a portion of a red onion; but, it really is not the same! Shallots do have a more mild taste. Honestly, I love the taste of onion; therefore, I do like using a red onion in this. However, my husband cannot stand onions and he says the shallot really makes a difference. It is up to you!
Garlic
You can buy pre-minced garlic; however, I love mincing my own with this mini food processor. You can also use that for the shallot.
Tomato Paste
This is in a jar by your classic tomato or pizza sauces.
Vodka
If you do not want to use vodka, or do not have it, you can try a little squeeze of a lemon and add a bit more water, if it needs it.
We will be burning the alcohol off; therefore, there will not be any actual alcohol in the dish. Actually, when Gigi Hadid made this pasta recipe, she skipped the vodka and everyone suspected she was pregnant! Well, she was, but still, we do burn off the alcohol.
Heavy Cream
Yes, the heavy cream does make it better and it is what I specifically use. However, if you really want to make it lighter, you can try some fat-free half and half.
Crushed Red Pepper
I add this at the end to make it spicy. Gigi Hadid does like her pasta recipe to be spicy. However, we also skip the crushed red pepper a lot and use a spicy Italian sausage instead. You can also skip the spicy part which is also amazing.
Salt, Pepper and Parsley
Add this at the end, as much or as little as you like!
How to Make the Best Penne alla Vodka
Gigi Hadid, you may know her as a supermodel or the daughter of one of those real housewives ladies. Well, a while back, she went viral making this spicy vodka sauce. Everyone went crazy for this "Gigi Hadid vodka pasta recipe". But, it is really just a spicy penne alla vodka!
I like to have everything prepped, measured and ready to go. I suggest you do the same.
Pasta
Start by cooking the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve a half cup of pasta water, if needed. Then, drain well and set aside.
Gigi Hadid Pasta Sauce Recipe
Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add one tablespoon of oil and allow that to heat up.
In the pan, add the shallots and sauté for about a minute or two, until they start to become translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Pour in the rest of the oil and the tomato paste. Mix that together and continue to cook until they are combined, about 3-5 minutes.
Add in the vodka sauce. Stir together for about 2-3 minutes, until it no longer smells like alcohol.
Pour in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese, stirring to combine. Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer for 4-7 minutes, until thickened.
Add in the pasta and stir to combine. If needed, slowly stir in the pasta water.
Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, salt, pepper and parsley, mixing to evenly distribute.
Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe
Have you seen that famous Gigi Hadid pasta recipe, well, it is just penne alla vodka and I will show you how to make the best version of it!
Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe (Penne alla Vodka)
Equipment
- Stovetop
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta dry
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 shallot
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- ¼ cup vodka
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- ½ teaspoon parsley or to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve a half cup of pasta water, if needed. Drain well then set aside.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add one tablespoon of oil and allow that to heat up.
- Add the shallots and sauté for about a minute or two, until they start to become translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Pour in the rest of the oil and the tomato paste. Mix that together and continue to cook until they are combined, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add in the vodka sauce. Stir together for about 2-3 minutes, until it no longer smells like alcohol.
- Pour in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese, stirring to combine. Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer for 4-7 minutes, until thickened.
- Add in the pasta and stir to combine. If needed, slowly stir in the pasta water.
- Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, salt, pepper and parsley, mixing to evenly distribute.
Nutrition
Some healthier alternatives:
Hey, everything is Weight Watcher friendly in moderation. My biggest tip is to save up all your rollovers and weeklies for one meal a week. I do that on Saturday nights and this has been my go-to for a while. It allows you to still enjoy the foods you love and do the things you want to do. But, you can still click here to check out your own WW points.
[…] serve it with a side of my Gigi Hadid famous pasta recipe, air fryer buffalo cauliflower, mini bloomin onions (air fryer white pearl onions), or air fryer […]