My obsession with pasta continues! I’m very nostalgic about this recipe for vodka sauce because it is actually the first dish I ever cooked completely on my own when I moved into my first apartment at age 23. It was around the time of my birthday and my sister put together the best gift for me ever. She compiled all of my favorite recipes from growing up and put them in a book for me, and then put together a huge basket full of a bunch of the ingredients needed to make them. I was floored, and it was the first step in me really discovering my culinary voice while holding on to family traditions. 10 years later and I’m still not tired of this dish!
During the last 5 or so minutes of cooking time, the crab meat went in and gently poached in the vodka sauce to cook through. Crab meat cooks so quickly! In the meantime, I had boiled a pound of rotini pasta.
I just scooped a big old portion into a bowl and sprinkled lots of freshly grated parmesan on top. This is an easy and incredible dish that’s really special to me, so I hope you enjoy! It’s perfect to feed a crowd and fancy enough for entertaining. You could also put the vodka sauce on pizza, or swap out the crabmeat for shrimp or pre-cooked chicken. Have fun playing with it, and Buon Appetito! xoxo
This vodka sauce is so easy to make. When you add in crabmeat and put it over tender rotini, you have an incredible dish for entertaining a crowd or an intimate dinner for two!
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 whole white onion peeled and finely diced
- 2 cans diced tomatoes 28 ounce size
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper
- 8 ounces crabmeat any type on sale
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- freshly grated parmesan cheese as needed for topping
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large rondeau pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and diced tomato and let it all come to a gentle boil. Let the mixture simmer for 25 minutes so it can reduce and thicken. In the meantime, get a large pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. Salt it generously.
- When the tomato mixture is done simmering add the heavy cream, vodka, salt and crushed red pepper. Stir it in thoroughly and let it simmer for another 25 minutes to thicken and develop flavor. When there is about 5 minutes left, get the crab meat in to gently poach in the sauce.
- While that all happens, cook the pasta in the boiling water for about 10 minutes. Drain it, transfer it into the pan of sauce and toss it all together. Take the pan off of the heat and scoop the pasta into bowls. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve!
Does the obsession with pasta actually ever end? Ahaha this looks delicious
It definitely never ends!!
Such a cute story about your sister’s gift for you and the pasta looks so yummy
My sister is amazing and I don’t mind bragging about it, ha! Thanks very much, Paula :-).
This looks very interesting and I know my husband would love to try it!
Thanks very much!!
This looks amazing! I love vodka sauce, but I’ve never had it with crab meat. Rotini is the perfect pasta for holding all the sauce.
Yes, the rotini is perfect for holding it for sure! Thanks very much :-).
Pasta is my favorite. I could eat it for every meal. This recipe looks delicious!
Thanks very much!!