The Devil's Kiss Pasta from The Pasta Queen!

Here is a delicious and easy pasta recipe from The Pasta Queen.  Rigatoni with smoked tomato, Calabrian chili, and vodka cream sauce.

Serves 4 people 

Ingredients

4 ounces pancetta, cut into quarter inch dice 
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 
1/2 small white onion, diced 
2 garlic cloves, minced 
Sea salt 
1/4 cup tomato paste 
1 cup vodka 
1 tablespoon Calabrian chili paste 
20 ounces fire, roasted tomatoes or whole canned tomatoes, crushed by hand 
1 cup heavy cream
1 pound rigatoni
60g/2 ounces (about three-quarter cup) finally graded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Whole fresh Calabrian chili peppers, for garnish
​

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat.


In a large, deep sauté pan, sizzle the pancetta in the olive oil over medium-low heat. Once the pancetta begins to brown and release its fat, about five minutes, add the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onion becomes slightly translucent and releases its flavor into the olive oil, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the tomato paste and increase the heat to medium, stirring to develop the onion and garlic in the intense paste. Cook until the tomato paste turns a brick-red hue, about two minutes. 

Add the vodka and simmer until the alcohol aroma evaporates and the liquid has reduced by half, about 1½ minutes.

Add the Calabrian chili paste and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Pour in the tomatoes and cream, stirring to combine. Season with more salt, then increase the heat to medium-high and simmer for five minutes to thicken the sauce and let the flavors mingle.

Once the pasta water has reached a rolling boil, season with salt until the water tastes like a well-seasoned soup. Drop in the pasta and cook until al dente. Transfer the pasta to the sauce pan along with a ladleful (about ½ cup) of pasta cooking water and stir together until the rigatoni are drenched in the spicy, silky sauce. 

Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

​Serve garnished with chili peppers, if desired.