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Gigi Hadid Pasta without Vodka

by Dana Bean, RD

This creamy and tangy vodka pasta went viral in 2020 and will undoubtedly still be your new favorite fancy dinner to make at home! Enjoy Gigi Hadid Pasta without Vodka using the best substitution.

Gigi Hadid Pasta without Vodka

Creamy yet tangy tomato vodka pasta with a replacement for the vodka
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: dinner

Equipment

  • 1 medium pot
  • 1 large skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 lb pasta save 1 cup pasta water
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 shallot chopped
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 6 oz tomato pasta
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese + more to top
  • 2 Tbsp basil chopped
  • red pepper chili flakes as desired

Instructions

  • Boil pasta in salted water according to directions on package. Reserve 1 cup pasta water when draining.
  • Heat large skillet to medium. Add oil, shallot and minced garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes then add tomato paste. Stir well.
  • Add pasta water, heavy cream, butter, lemon juice. Mix and add parmesan. Add drained pasta to skillet and mix.
  • Top with more parmesan, chopped basil, and chili flakes as desired. Enjoy!

Gigi Hadid pasta went viral on Tik Tok in 2020 when she shared how she makes this dish on Instagram stories! I’ve made some adjustments to make a larger amount of the dish to share (and hello, leftovers). She was essentially making spicy vodka pasta, but it has now been deemed as “Gigi Hadid Pasta”.

If you don’t like spicy, no worries! This recipe is easy to adjust simple don’t add the red pepper flakes. If you like it extra spicy, add more to yours!

How to we take the vodka out of vodka pasta? It’s simple really and the vodka isn’t necessary. I personally don’t keep vodka on hand and wouldn’t want to buy a bottle for just 2 tablespoons in a recipe.

The key is using something acidic to give that tangy flavor, while complimenting the flavors that are already in the dish. To replace vodka in this case, lemon juice works so well! It compliments the garlic, tomato, basil, etc…

Another option if you don’t have lemon juice on hand is using distilled white vinegar. I find this tends to have a stronger acidic taste, so use half the amount (1 Tablespoon) to avoid an excessively strong vinegar taste.

Gigi Hadid herself didn’t actually use a substitute when leaving out the Vodka and that works too! It will slightly less tangy this way.

In my mind, this is the perfect make-at-home date night recipe. It’s different and special enough to set it apart from regular dinners you make at home, honestly tastes like restaurant quality, and takes under 30 minutes to make so you still have plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company!

Whether it’s your 25th anniversary or that special someone is new in your life, they will LOVE this Gigi Hadid Pasta without Vodka (we can just call it vodka pasta).

Gigi Hadid Pasta without Vodka with chopped basil and fresh parmesan on top in a black skillet.

We’ve got the creamy, flavorful pasta covered! I usually add some protein and veggies to the meal to create a meal that is going to feel great for my body hours later. You get to decide what’s best for your body!

Try adding some of these to add more protein to the meal!

  • Meatballs (turkey or regular)
  • Chicken sausage
  • Baked salmon

The possibilities are endless here, but I usually go with a veggie that can be a stand alone side (rather than adding it to the dish, because it’s already perfection).

Balsamic Glaze Brussels Sprouts in white plate with blue stripped dish towel.
Balsamic Glaze Brussels Sprouts
  • Pairing the Gigi Hadid Pasta (without Vodka) with protein and veggies can help improve satisfaction AND it’s not a rule to pair it with anything!
  • Meals that are more rich are not “cheat meals”. They are simply food that is more rich or dense and they fit into a healthy relationship with food.
  • It is normal and welcome to find joy in food

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