Vodka Sauce Pizza
80 min · 8 steps
Hard: over 60 min or 12+ steps
About this dish
A pink, creamy tomato sauce simmered with vodka until the sharp alcohol smell cooks away, leaving a base that tastes rounder than a plain tomato sauce without reading as overtly boozy.
Allergy Info
Dairy, Gluten
Diet Info
Vegetarian
Before you start
Ready-made is fine, or make your own.
- 72-Hour Cold-Ferment Pizza Dough500 gstart 3 days aheadMake your own
- Same-Day Pizza Dough500 gstart 2 hours aheadMake your own
Ingredients
Fresh Produce
- Garlic clovesminced2
- fresh basil leavestorn2 tbsp
Dairy & Eggs
- Double cream100 ml
- low-moisture mozzarellacoarsely grated250 g
- Parmigiano-Reggianofinely grated30 g
Tins & Jars
- whole peeled San Marzano tomatoesdrained400 g
Dried Goods
- Ready-made pizza doughat room temperature500 g
- semolinafor launching1 tbsp
Spices & Seasonings
- crushed red pepper flakes0.5 tsp
- Fine sea saltfor the sauce5 g
Oils & Condiments
- vodka60 ml
- Extra-virgin olive oilfor the sauce15 ml
Utensils
- Saucepan
- Pizza stone
- Pizza peel
- Pizza cutter
Method
Take the dough out of the refrigerator, divide it into two 250 g balls, and leave them, covered, at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook the garlic and chilli flakes for 1 minute until fragrant, then crush in the tomatoes.
Add the vodka and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until the raw alcohol smell has cooked off. Stir in the double cream and salt and simmer for a further 2 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from the heat.
Preheat the oven, with a pizza stone on the top rack, to its maximum temperature, at least 260°C, for 30 minutes.
Stretch one dough ball on a semolina-dusted peel into a 30cm round.
Spread the vodka sauce over the base, then scatter over the mozzarella and parmesan.
Bake for 10 to 11 minutes until the crust is charred and the cheese is bubbling.
Scatter with basil, rest for 2 minutes, then slice. Repeat with the second dough ball and remaining sauce and cheese.