Vegan Vodka Sauce
When you need an ultra-creamy, flavorful, and easy pasta recipe, this vegan vodka sauce will hit the spot! It's a simple dish that incorporates everything you love about a hearty pasta dish, and it's ready in only 30 minutes!
Servings: 4
Calories: 478kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat penne pasta or pasta of choice
- ½ cup cashews
- ⅔ cup vodka
- ½ cup pasta water
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- vegan parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package directions.
- While the penne pasta is cooking, add the cashews to a small saucepan of boiling water. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a large saucepan, add the diced onions with olive oil and saute for 3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic, and saute for another minute until fragrant
- Reduce the heat to low, add the vodka, and simmer for 10 minutes or until all the vodka has been cooked off.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and pasta water and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Transfer the contents to a high-speed blender with the drained cashews. Blend until smooth.
- Add the sauce back to the saute pan. Add the cooked pasta, and fold until the sauce completely coats the pasta.
- Serve topped with vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Video
Notes
Tips for Making Vegan Vodka Sauce
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- When it comes to your pasta water, don't forget to reserve ½ a cup. Not any water will do! Pasta water has been seasoned with salt, and the starches from the pasta that have been left in the water helps to bind the sauce's ingredients together and help the sauce stick to the pasta when it's all folded together.
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- Don't forget to salt your water! This is essential for creating flavorful pasta out of the gate and gives the pasta water some extra flavor.
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- Make sure you give the cashews enough time to soak and soften.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat.
Nutrition
Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 732mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 507IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 4mg