Vegan Penne Alla Vodka

Stunningly delicious vegan Penne alla Vodka! This recipe for creamy vodka sauce with penne is anything but boring! Delicious, quick and easy to make!

Table of Contents

• 💡Origin
• 🍝 Ingredients
• 👩‍🍳 Visual Step-by-Step Instructions
• 🍝 More Creamy Pasta Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Vodka in pasta? Maybe this sounds a little foreign to you at first, but don’t worry, it’s a great combination! Plus, you don’t have to be a vodka drinker to enjoy this recipe! 😉

Penne Alla Vodka is a classic Italian-American pasta dish that has a warm and inviting flavor profile. This vegan version keeps the same comforting flavors, but substitutes a creamy sauce for the more traditional dairy-based sauce with one simple ingredient swap.

As a pasta fan, you really need to try this vegan vodka pasta recipe. It’s delicious, creamy, and easy to cook in just 15 minutes. The vodka sauce makes for a unique flavor, just lovely.

Besides vodka, the sauce is made with tomato passata and vegan cream (I like to use soy- or oat cream).

If you can’t find a plant-based cream alternative in the supermarket, you can prepare this vegan cashew cream with raw cashews as a dairy-free alternative. Vegetarians and flexitarians are welcome to use regular cream as per the original recipe.

Note: The alcohol content from the vodka does evaporate when you boil down the sauce, but only partially. Therefore, I do not advise this recipe for pregnant women or children! It is rather a recipe for a romantic candlelight dinner, and should stay away from the family table. However, you are welcome to prepare the vegan penne alla vodka recipe without vodka so that you can enjoy it with your family. It results in an especially creamy, alcohol-free tomato pasta main dish!

💡Origin

Penne alla Vodka became famous in Italy and America in the 1980s, but it’s somewhat controversial who actually invented the recipe. However, it clearly became a star when supermodel Gigi Hadid posted her version on social media. She has helped the Italian dish to create a worldwide sensation.

🍝 Ingredients

See recipe card for quantities.

• Pasta → I recommend Penne, Rigatoni, or pasta of your choice. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta (e.g. from Barilla). You can also use whole wheat or spelt pasta, these satiate a little longer.
• Vodka → The icing on the cake of this recipe! If you don’t have any vodka on hand, a mild gin will also do the trick. 
• Tomato Passata→ Use a high-quality tomato passata (I love the one from Mutti – this tastes very aromatic and intense). It can be replaced by canned whole or chopped tomatoes, but if so, I recommend boiling the sauce for a little longer.
• Dairy-Free Cream → Makes the vodka sauce particularly creamy. I like to use oat or soy cream for the vegan vodka sauce.
• Onion & Garlic → Adds flavor! Feel free to substitute a shallot for the onion.
• Red Pepper Flakes → Gives a mild spiciness. Optional, can easily be omitted.
• Flat Leaf Parsley → Adds some color to this dish. Fresh basil would work too.
• Olive Oil → For sautéing the onions & garlic. Also works with vegan butter or vegetable oil.
• Salt, Pepper, Sugar → To taste!

👩‍🍳 Visual Step-by-Step Instructions

This visual step-by-step instruction will help you along the way – definitely recommended if you’re a cooking beginner! 😉

• Cook penne according to the packet instructions in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Keep some pasta cooking water aside for later. Drain over a sieve.
• Heat a skillet or pot with olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced onion and garlic, sauté for 3 minutes until translucent, stirring occasionally.
• Deglaze with vodka and let it bubble until reduced to half. → Don’t let the vodka evaporate completely, a little vodka in the sauce is desired for the taste.
• Stir in the tomato passata, red pepper flakes, and sugar and let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the plant-based cream and season with salt and black pepper. 

• Add the cooked pasta and toss for one minute, allowing the penne to soak up the vodka sauce. → Add some reserved pasta cooking water if the sauce thickens too much.
• Serve with chopped parsley!

Hint: Feel free to serve the pasta with some vegan Parmesan cheese.

🍝 More Creamy Pasta Recipes

• Baked Cream Cheese Pasta
• Baked Feta Pasta with Spinach
• Creamy Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

📖 Recipe