Prep Your Pantry for this Sunday’s Facebook Live Segment with the Guest Chef
While we daydream of returning to Italy’s coastlines and ancient cities, overflowing with art, history and sun-drenched meals al fresco, we’re serving up a taste of the country’s famous cuisine this week on Crystal@Home: A Virtual Cruise Experience. Such timeless ingredients and techniques for which Italy is famous are also highlights of meals shared aboard Crystal Cruises in the regionally inspired Prego restaurants.
This week, Penne Alla Vodka, a classically comforting pasta dish that will satisfy and impress any palate, stars in episode 3 of Sunday Cooking with Chef Jon Ashton, which will air LIVE Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. on the Crystal Cruises Facebook page. The full recipe is included here so you can prep your pantry with the ingredients, then join us live with Chef Jon Ashton on Sunday. See you in the kitchen.
Penne Alla Vodka
By Chef Jon Ashton
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 32-ounce jar tomato sauce (Rao’s or Victoria) or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
½ cup vodka
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¾ cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
1 pound penne pasta
⅓ cup minced fresh basil
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Meanwhile, heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the sliced garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Add tomato sauce and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Add vodka. Bring sauce to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until thickened, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in oregano and cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cover and keep warm.
Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Toss sauce and basil with pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and serve.
Crystal’s new Crystal@Home: A Virtual Cruise Experience program brings several elements of the renowned Crystal Experience directly to guests, wherever in the world they are. “Sunday Cooking with Chef Jon Ashton” represents the culinary excellence found aboard Crystal ships, as some of the greatest travel memories are created over the greatest meals.
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