Spicy Rigatoni Vodka (Carbone Inspired) 

This delicious spicy rigatoni vodka recipe is inspired by the famous NY Carbone restaurant’s dish. However, I’ve put my own spin on it so that it is high protein rigatoni (Carbone-style) by adding turkey mince.

This delightful pasta dish is budget-friendly (say goodbye to £25 a plate!) and easy to make. Plus, it includes an irresistible, velvety, rich vodka cream sauce.

Why you’ll love this spicy rigatoni vodka

As mentioned, this yummy spicy rigatoni vodka dish is easy on the wallet, with each portion costing about £1.59. It’s also more filling than the restaurant version since it includes lean protein.

Since this Carbone spicy rigatoni recipe is homemade, you can adjust the spice level in the sauce to your preferences. It’s also easy to toss in veg for a more filling, fibre-rich dish.

This cosy meal is also great for meal prep, as it lasts four to five days in the fridge. Simply reheat on the stove with an extra splash of single cream, and you’ll have a plateful of spicy rigatoni that tastes like it was freshly made.

Try these other yummy pasta dishes if you’re craving cosy meals: Cheesy Gnocchi Bake, Gigi Hadid Pasta, or Easy Quorn Bolognese.

Short History of Carbone’s Spicy Rigatoni Vodka

Carbone, a NY restaurant that has housed many celebrities since its opening in 2011, is famous for its spicy rigatoni vodka dish.

This dish takes its inspiration from classic Italian fare, where alcohol is used to boost the flavour of tomatoes. Mario Carbone, one of the founders of the Carbone restaurant, is credited with creating spicy vodka rigatoni. According to some sources, this famous dish is inspired by penne alla vodka, a creamy tomato-based pasta dish.

The spicy rigatoni (Carbone-version) is so popular and beloved that the restaurant recently came out with a Carbone vodka sauce you can purchase and enjoy at home. This store version is still pricey at around £7 per jar.hy you’ll love this spicy rigatoni vodka.

Ingredients

Turkey Mince
I love adding turkey mince to this spicy rigatoni vodka dish to boost the protein and make it more filling. However, you can leave out the mince to create a vegetarian dish. Or, use other mince like chicken or pork instead.

Tomato Puree
Tomato puree is my go-to for vodka rigatoni since it works well as a sauce base for pasta dishes. Mashed fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce will also work well for this Carbone pasta dupe. Add tomato paste to this spicy rigatoni vodka pasta if you prefer thicker sauces.

Single Cream
This ingredient helps create the creamy sauce that Carbone spicy rigatoni is known for. It is also lower in calories than double or heavy cream. However, if you want a more comforting meal, you can use heavy or double cream to create a decadent sauce.

Variations/Adaptations

One of the reasons I love this spicy rigatoni vodka dish so much is that it’s versatile. You can create this spicy rigatoni recipe with gin, tequila, white wine, lemon juice, or cognac and chicken/veggie broth instead of vodka. You’ll get a similar flavour, but it allows you to use what’s on hand instead of running to the store for a bottle of vodka.

Though the Carbone version of this dish uses large rigatoni, you can adjust the type of pasta to your needs. Penne or other tubular noodles work well with this dish since they collect the sauce well.

If you don’t like turkey mince, you can use meat like Italian sausage in this recipe. Other options that work well include chicken or pork mince. Chunks of cooked chicken or chicken sausage also work well with this spicy rigatoni vodka (Carbone-style). You can also adjust the heat level in the sauce by using more or fewer chilli flakes.

A few more variations include using shallots instead of onion, adding more vodka for additional flavour, including sun-dried tomatoes, or adding fresh basil and mozzarella.

What does vodka do in pasta sauce?

Spicy rigatoni vodka dishes require vodka (or a similar spirit) to help balance out the flavour of the tomatoes and the cream in the sauce. Vodka also affects the consistency of the sauce, as it helps bind the ingredients together.

How to make carbone inspired rigatoni pasta

1. Add half the olive oil and the turkey mince to a large non-stick frying pan on a high heat. Spread the meat across the pan and leave to brown (no stirring). After 5 minutes the meat should have started to brown on one side. Use your spatula to break the mince apart and cook for a further 5 minutes. Set the cooked meat aside (Image 1).
2. Using the same pan, add the onion with the remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until translucent, frying for approx 5 minutes. Once the onions are translucent, add the garlic, chilli flakes and tomato puree into the pan (Image 2).

3. Fry together for around 8 minutes and until the tomato puree has darkened (Image 3).

4. Then add the vodka and increase the heat. Stir and cook until the liquid has evaporated and the alcohol is cooked off (Image 4).

5. In the meantime, add the rigatoni to salted boiling water and set your timer 2 minutes less than the packet instructions (Image 5).

6. Stir the turkey mince into the pan. Add around 4 ladles of pasta water and reduce the heat. When the heat is low, stir in the cream into the mix (Image 6).

7. Then add the al dente pasta (reserve some extra pasta water in case) and half of the parmesan. Then, add around 4 ladles of pasta water into the frying pan and reduce the heat and stir together. Continue to cook until the sauce has thickened and the pasta is perfectly cooked (Image 7).

8. Add another additional pasta water if necessary. Top with the remaining parmesan and fresh basil (Image 8).

Here are some more pasta recipes to give you inspiration; Creamy Tomato and Spinach One Pot Pasta, Alison Roman Caramelised Shallot pasta and Broccoli Pesto Orzo

What to serve with spicy rigatoni

While this yummy spicy rigatoni vodka dish is delicious on its own, you can add other side dishes to make a more filling meal. Consider including a salad on the side for added nutrients. Like other saucy pasta dishes, this recipe is great with bread, like focaccia, so you can scoop up any leftover sauce on the plate.

FAQs

How to meal prep

You can turn this spicy rigatoni vodka into meals throughout the week by splitting it into five even portions in airtight containers. Once the pasta and sauce are fully cooled, you can keep the meals in the fridge for up to five days. Take them to the office or enjoy them as quick dinners during the week.

Here are some other tasty pasta meal prep recipes for you to try ; Easy Meatless Baked Ziti (Vegetarian), Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta and Creamy Bacon Pasta

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Spicy Vodka Rigatoni

by Mimi Harrison

Print

5 from 19 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

£1.59

mains

Italian

Freezable

Servings: 5

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

MetricUS Standard

This easy spicy rigatoni vodka tastes nearly identical to the Carbone restaurant’s version, yet it’s much easier on your wallet! Perfect for cosy dinners.

Ingredients

• ▢ 500 g turkey mince (£3.55)
• ▢ 1 onion, finely diced (£0.09)
• ▢ 3 cloves of garlic, minced (£0.69/3)=(£0.23)
• ▢ 8 tbsp tomato puree (£0.35)
• ▢ 400 g rigatoni (£0.65)
• ▢ 50 ml vodka (£6.00/7)=(£0.86)
• ▢ 50 ml single cream (£0.80)
• ▢ 50 g parmesan, finely grated (£1.75/2)=(£0.87)
• ▢ Fresh basil, finely chopped (£0.55)

Cupboard Essentials

• ▢ 1 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 1 tsp chilli flakes
• ▢ Salt & Pepper

Method

• Add half the olive oil and the turkey mince to a large non-stick frying pan on high heat. Spread the meat across the pan and leave to brown for around 5 minutes (no stirring).
• The meat should have started to brown on one side after 5 minutes. Use your spatula to break the mince apart and cook for a further 5 minutes. Set the cooked meat aside.
• Next, reduce the heat and add the onion into the pan with the remaining olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper. Sauté until translucent, frying for approx 5 minutes.
• Once translucent, add the garlic, chilli flakes and tomato puree into the pan. Stir to combine and fry for around 8 minutes on a low heat. During this time, add the rigatoni to salted boiling water, setting your timer 2 minutes less than the packet time.
• When the tomato puree has darkened, add the vodka and increase the heat. Stir and cook until the liquid has evaporated and the alcohol is cooked off. Stir the turkey mince into the pan.
• Then, add around 4 ladles of pasta water into the frying pan and reduce the heat. When the heat is low, stir the cream into the mix along with the al dente pasta (reserve some extra pasta water in case) and half of the parmesan. Stir and continue to cook until the sauce has thickened and the pasta is perfectly cooked. Add another additional pasta water if necessary. Top with the remaining parmesan and fresh basil.

Notes

• Opt for Calabrian chilis instead of red pepper flakes for an authentic twist on the Carbone-inspired dish.
• Achieve the best spicy rigatoni vodka by cooking the pasta al-dente, ensuring better sauce adherence and preventing mushy leftovers.
• Double or triple the sauce quantity, storing leftovers in airtight containers for up to three months in the freezer for convenient reheating.

Nutrition

Servings: 5 servings

Fat: 13g

Calories: 543kcal

Carbohydrates: 63g

Protein: 28g