Gigi Hadid Pasta
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Learn how to make my Gigi Hadid pasta recipe, and you’ll see it’s worth the hype. It features al dente pasta tossed in a creamy tomato-vodka sauce with fresh herbs…and it’s SO easy!
Weeknight meals are synonymous with pasta in my house. While I enjoy experimenting, I sometimes need a fuss-free, foolproof dish. Que, Gigi Hadid’s pasta.
For this recipe, I scoured the internet to learn what makes Gigi Hadid’s pasta so famous. After endless recipe testing (and perhaps a vodka martini in between), I’ve finally mastered her recipe, but with a few twists to make a more decadent vodka sauce.
Through testing, I found the secret isn’t the vodka (which I’ve skipped on several occasions)- it’s properly cooking the tomato paste. Giving it a few extra minutes to darken and caramelize creates a deeper, richer sauce that takes this from a ‘viral pasta recipe’ to one I’ve regularly made for company.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Fit for every occasion. It’s impressive enough to make when I’m hosting yet simple enough to whip up for a more casual weeknight dinner.
- It’s SO easy. If you can boil pasta and simmer sauce, you can make this. Heck, even if you can’t, I’ll break it down so you look like a true professional.
- Quick. Including prep time, you’re looking at under 30 minutes.
- Better than the viral version. A few small tweaks make my sauce richer, creamier, and far more flavorful.
Ingredients needed
- Olive oil. To sauté the aromatics. I prefer extra virgin olive oil as it imparts the most flavor.
- Onion. You’ll need one finely chopped red onion. You can also substitute white onions or even shallots.
- Garlic. I prefer freshly minced garlic, but I’ve used jarred garlic in a pinch.
- Tomato paste. For a bold, concentrated tomato flavor and rich color. You can also blend up my fire roasted tomatoes for a more intense, smoky flavor.
- Heavy cream. Australian/UK friends, look for double or thickened cream. You can use light cream, but the sauce won’t be as rich.
- Vodka. In sauce, vodka adds richness and a more complex layer of flavor. It will all be cooked out, so there shouldn’t be any alcohol in the recipe. If you’d rather not cook with it, use equal portions of broth and one teaspoon of rice wine vinegar.
- Red pepper flakes. For the ‘spicy’ in spicy vodka pasta sauce. You can go as hard or as little as you like. The recommended one teaspoon adds a subtle heat without overpowering the sauce.
- Salt and black pepper. To season.
- Pasta. Gigi uses shell pasta, which I also prefer because it holds the sauce well. Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
- Pasta cooking water. To adjust the pasta sauce consistency. I prefer this over plain water as the starch in the pasta water helps the sauce adhere to the noodles.
- Butter. For extra richness, use unsalted butter, so you have more control over the saltiness.
- Parmesan cheese. Opt for a block of parm and freshly grate it into the pasta. I find this melts much more seamlessly into the sauce. Pre-shredded parm works, but it will clump in sections (still delicious!).
- Fresh parsley and fresh basil. To garnish.
How to make Gigi Hadid pasta
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Cook tomato and aromatics. Add the garlic and onion to a large saucepan. Once soft, add the tomato paste and cook briefly.
Step 2- Build the sauce. Add the cream and vodka and simmer until the alcohol evaporates. Add the seasonings, stir, and remove from the heat.
Step 3- Cook the pasta. In a large pot, cook the pasta to al dente, strain, and reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water.
Step 4- Combine. Fold in the butter and stir until it melts, then add the pasta, reserved pasta water, and parmesan. Once combined, serve with fresh herbs.
Arman’s tips and variations
- Cook the pasta to al dente. It’ll continue cooking briefly once everything is combined, so only boil it until it’s firm but has a slight bite.
- Save some pasta water. I know every pasta recipe says this, but there’s a good reason for it. Pasta water is full of starch, which helps the sauce become silky and cling to the pasta rather than slide off. If the sauce starts looking too thick, I add a splash at a time until it’s glossy and coats every piece.
- Add protein. I often add cooked shrimp, chicken, plant-based meat, or even meatballs to round out the meal.
- Make it vegan. Use plant-based cream and sub the parmesan for nutritional yeast.
- Adjust the heat. The amount of red chili flakes is only a suggestion, so feel free to taste as you go and add more if desired.
What to serve with this pasta
This dish is the perfect main course all on its own, but if you want to pair it with sides, I suggest something light like a wedge salad, sautéed Brussels sprouts, or air fryer garlic bread to soak up the spicy vodka sauce.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. In fact, I’ve made it many times without it. You have two ways to do it-
1. Simply leave it out. The vodka adds some sharpness and bite, but leaving it out completely is just as delicious.
2. Use broth with lemon or rice vinegar. Adding a teaspoon of either lemon or rice vinegar, along with veggie or chicken broth, mimics the sharpness that the vodka would provide.
Gigi Hadid Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil 60mL
- 1 small red onion chopped, 100g approx.
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste 60g
- 1/2 cup heavy cream 120 mL
- 1 tablespoon vodka See notes
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 1/2 ounces shell pasta uncooked, 240g
- 1 tablespoon butter 15g
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 25g
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil, garlic, and onion and cook until soft. Add tomato paste and cook until it starts getting darker color.
- Add the heavy cream followed by vodka, and cook for one minute until the alcohol evaporates. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, and combine well. Remove the sauce from the heat.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, reserving ¼ cup of the liquid, and drain it.
- Add the butter to the sauce and stir over medium heat until it melts. Add pasta and cooking water to the sauce and stir well. Add parmesan and combine everything.
- Serve with some chopped fresh herbs.
Notes
Nutrition
More pasta recipes
Originally published July 2023
Everyone in the family loves this recipe. I add stock cube, prawns and basil.
Charlotte- I LOVE that you added prawns to it- something I sometimes do too. A great protein addition!
The best Gigi Hadid pasta- Tried a few others and it wasn’t as flavorful.
Thanks so much, Naomi- appreciate the lovely review!
I love this pasta for a quick weeknight dinner. I usually add sliced chicken breast on top.
Thanks for the feedback, Jamie- love the addition of chicken!
Many times I heard vodka is going in dish with pasta but I actually never tried!
Very good recipe with pasta. Seems very tasty.
Thank you, Mario- Enjoy!
Very tasty and easy to make. Absolutely recommend to everybody.
Just cooked this, substituted cream with coconut cream and vodka with vegie stock (save me a trip out) and it’s delicious! So quick and tasty.
Looking forward to trying with vodka and cream. 🙂
Love the tweaks you made, Anne- glad it turned out well for you!
I made this using Banza pasta. I didn’t have heavy cream but I did have coconut milk which worked just fine. This was so delicious! My husband was a huge fan as well. I will be making it again and again.
Great flavor! Easy to make. Will be adding to the dinner rotation.
I love this recipe but have to forgo pasta right now. I’m thinking the sauce would be amazing over shredded chicken or on a piece of white fish with riced cauliflower. Thanks!
This is delicious. Had to substitute chicken broth for the vodka, and used dairy free cream, left out the onion and used the whole can of tomato paste – but the pasta is delicious. Will be adding this to my regular meals.
Easy, delicious, and kid-friendly.
Thanks for the feedback, Estelle!