This week, try the simple smoked chili and vodka pasta dish.

 Whether you're entertaining guests or enjoying a solo dinner, having a fantastic pasta recipe at your disposal is a must. From cheesy to traditional meat-based options or even pasta infused with vodka, there's a wide array of choices to explore. Vodka-infused pasta, made famous by Gigi Hadid's viral recipe in 2020, has gained popularity, even inspiring products like Heinz and Absolut's pasta sauce. If you're eager to recreate this dish at home, food writer Bre Graham's smoked chili and vodka rigatoni recipe is a sweet, rich, and slightly spicy delight. It pairs perfectly with a glass of wine and comes together in no time. The combination of garlic, onion, tomato purée, cream, vodka, and smoked chili creates a sauce that's irresistibly flavorful. Here's a straightforward recipe for you to try:

 Smoked Paprika and Vodka Rigatoni Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 250g dried rigatoni
• 15g (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter
• 1⁄2 finely grated white onion
• Pinch of sea salt (for pasta)
• 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 3 tablespoons tomato purée
• 1 teaspoon smoked and dried paprika flakes
• 75 ml (5 tablespoons) vodka
• 100 ml (6 1⁄2 tablespoons) double cream (thick)
• 1 handful basil leaves, finely chopped, plus more for serving
• 1 handful of freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Preparation:

1. Cook rigatoni in a large saucepan of salted water following package directions.
2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté with a pinch of salt until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, then add tomato purée and smoked paprika flakes. Reduce heat, stir, and simmer for 2 minutes.
3. When tomato paste begins to caramelize and stick to the bottom, pour in vodka and stir to deglaze the pan. Allow vodka to evaporate and reduce before adding cream. The sauce should be smooth, creamy, and dark orange. Season with basil and Parmesan.
4. Drain rigatoni, reserving 4 tablespoons of pasta cooking water. Add pasta and cooking water to the sauce and mix.
5. Serve pasta topped with extra basil leaves and grated Parmesan or, for an indulgent twist, a scoop of burrata. Enjoy!

This delectable recipe is from Bre Graham's book "Table for Two: Recipes for the Ones You Love."