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    Home > Vegan Italian Recipes > Vegan Pasta Recipes

    Vegan Penne alla Vodka

    Posted: Feb 22, 2019 · Updated: Aug 19, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    This tasty and elegant dish of vegan Penne alla Vodka, or pasta with vegan vodka sauce, is full of flavor from garlic, oregano and, of course, vodka. It takes just 30 minutes to make, but it is classy and delicious enough for a special family dinner or a party with friends. 

    A big crystal platter of vegan penne alla vodka with a spoon, oregano and a green and gold napkin.

    Pasta with a simple but delicious marinara is my go-to dinner on weeknights when I want to get something together in a hurry. This gorgeous Penne alla Vodka is just as easy and tasty, but with a dash of extra elegance.

    There are just nine ingredients needed for this recipe (and salt and ground black pepper) and you can put it together in no more than 30 minutes. But it's good enough to serve to guests at a fancy dinner party. You don't even need to sprinkle on any cheese, because the "cream" in the sauce makes that completely unnecessary.

    Partial shot of a big crystal platter of vegan vodka pasta with a serving spoon, oregano and a green and gold napkin.

    For recipes that are as simple as this, you want to use the best ingredients you can possibly get your hands on for the most flavor. So while a can of plum tomatoes would work well, a can of San Marzano tomatoes is even better.

    The sauce itself is worthy of an ode. It's creamy and a pretty orange-red, and it tastes so good, you might find yourself shoveling it into your mouth with the ladle. You don't have to limit yourself to pouring it over pasta. Drizzle it over crepes or over a chunk of baked tofu or tempeh, or even roasted mushrooms. The possibilities are endless and each is delicious.

    Creamy vegan vodka pasta sauce in a steel saucepan with a wooden ladle and a red and white napkin

    The vodka is a key ingredient in the recipe, so don't skip it. The alcohol cooks out so your kid -- or you -- won't be tipsy after you've eaten it (good for the kid but not so good for you, huh?) I serve it to Jay who loves this dish, and I've never had to deal with slurred sentences or seeing four instead of two. 😉

    Although this superficially appears to be an Italian recipe, and it is often called a modern Italian classic, the origins of Penne alla Vodka are a topic of hot debate. Some believe it was invented right here in the United States, making it more American-Italian than Italian-American. Yet others believe it was the invention of vodka importers because vodka in an Italian recipe does sound a little weird, doesn't it?

    But whatever its origins, who cares when this dish itself is so delicious. Serve this vegan vodka pasta with a salad of leafy greens for a fabulous meal. It is a hot favorite in our home, and I hope you will try and enjoy it too.

    Looking for more vegan pasta recipes?

    • Instant Pot Spaghetti with "Meaty" Marinara
    • Garlicky Asparagus Pasta with Cashew Parmesan
    • Creamy Tahini Butternut Squash Pasta
    • Classic Vegan Lasagna
    • Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon

    Vegan Penne alla Vodka recipe:

    A big crystal platter of vegan penne alla vodka with a spoon, oregano and a green and gold napkin.
    This tasty and elegant dish of Penne alla Vodka is 100 percent vegan, and it is classy and delicious enough for a special family dinner or a party with friends. #vegan #pasta #Italian #AmericanItalian #dinner #vodka HolyCowVegan.net

    Vegan Penne alla Vodka

    This tasty and elegant dish of vegan Penne alla Vodka, or pasta with vegan vodka sauce, is full of flavor from garlic, oregano and, of course, vodka. It takes just 30 minutes to make, but it is classy and delicious enough for a special family dinner or a party with friends. 
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Main/Pasta
    Cuisine: American-Italian, Soy-free, Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Vegan Penne alla Vodka, Vegan Vodka Pasta
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 223kcal
    Author: Vaishali · Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound penne pasta
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
    • 2 large cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 ½ teaspoon dry oregano (In summer, you might try using fresh oregano or fresh basil for a wonderful flavor)
    • 1 28-oz can San Marzano tomatoes (Plum tomatoes make an okay substitute)
    • ¼ cup vodka
    • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust up or down to your taste)
    • ¼ cup raw cashews
    • Salt and ground black pepper to taste

    For serving

    • vegan parmesan cheese
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    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta until al dente-- firm but tender.
    • Place the tomatoes in a bowl and squish them with your fingers to break them down. Set aside.
    • Blend the cashews with ½ cup of water until very smooth. Set aside.
    • While the pasta water is boiling, heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, season with some salt and pepper, and cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
    • Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the tomatoes, vodka, oregano and red pepper flakes. (Anytime you add alcohol to a pot that's on the stove, make sure you either turn the heat off or very low).
    • Stir, bring the sauce to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it continue to simmer for 10 minutes.
    • Stir in the cashew cream and let it all warm through. Turn off the heat. Drain the cooked pasta and add it the sauce and mix well. Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Garnish, if you wish, with fresh parsley or oregano. Serve hot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 41.6g | Protein: 7.3g | Fat: 3.2g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5.3g | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    This tasty and elegant dish of Penne alla Vodka is 100 percent vegan, and it is classy and delicious enough for a special family dinner or a party with friends. #vegan #pasta #Italian #AmericanItalian #dinner #vodka HolyCowVegan.net
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    About Vaishali


    I cook and eat simple, tasty and nutritious plant-based food in my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. Read more about me here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lesly

      February 22, 2021 at 10:55 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for dinner for me and my BF earlier tonight. I'd never had penne alla vodka before but the recipe was easy and the sauce was delicious. I will make it again.

      Reply
    2. Kelsie

      May 08, 2020 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      This came out amazing! Will be making this much more often. Thanks for sharing!!:)

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        November 30, 2020 at 3:15 pm

        So happy to hear!

        Reply
    3. Marci

      April 17, 2020 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect pantry recipe. I used canned roma tomatoes which I had and followed the recipe exactly. It was amazing. Everyone enjoyed it.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        November 30, 2020 at 3:15 pm

        Awesome! So happy you liked it.

        Reply
    4. Heather L

      March 02, 2019 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe, thank you. Used Roma tomatoes & basil straight from from the garden, and the meal was yum! Will definitely be making this again soon.

      Reply
      • Vaishali Honawar

        April 15, 2019 at 10:14 am

        So happy to hear!

        Reply
    5. DJay

      February 22, 2019 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      Another knock out recipe! Thank you. I'm studying with my cohort tomorrow and taking it. Studying with a delicious vegan dish makes life better.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        February 25, 2019 at 8:37 pm

        Couldn't agree more! 🙂

        Reply

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me →

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me →

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