This Shrimp Penne alla Vodka recipe is worth breaking the Italian rule of no pairing of fish with cheese. The tomato vodka sauce and Grana Padano cheese tastes delicious with the shrimp! I used half and half in this recipe so that it would contain less fat, but if you prefer, you can use heavy cream for a thicker, more creamy sauce.

INGREDIENTS  

• 12 oz. Penne
• 1 lb. Raw Shrimp, peeled, deveined with optional tails left on
• 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup Grana Padano Cheese, can substitute with Pecorino or Parmigiana-Reggiano
• 25 oz. Tomato Passata
• 1/4 cup Vodka
• 1/2 cup Half and Half
• Handful Parsley, chopped for topping
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the penne and cook for two minutes less than the package instructions.

Meanwhile, add a drizzle of olive oil and the garlic to a sauté pan. Sauté for one minute over medium to high heat.

Add in the shrimp and season with salt and black pepper. Sauté for two minutes.

Pour in the vodka and continue to sauté for one more minute. Lower the heat, remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.

In the same pan, pour in the tomato passata and cook over medium heat for five minutes.

Two minutes before the pasta is ready, pour the half and half into the sauce pan and mix together.

Once the pasta is ready, scoop directly into the sauce pan and continue to let cook for two minutes.

Add the shrimp back into the pan along with the Grana Padano cheese and let cook for one minute over medium heat.

Serve with a sprinkle of parsley and more Grana Padano cheese on top.