Easy but delicious pasta dishes like vegan Pasta e Fagioli, vegan Pasta Puttanesca, Pasta alla Norma and this Vegan Instant Pot Pasta Bake are among my go-to dinners on weeknights when I want to get something together in a hurry. This gorgeous vegan Penne alla Vodka is just as easy and tasty, 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 vegan cheese, because the “cream” in the sauce makes that completely unnecessary. 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 vodka 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. 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. 😉 Check to get new recipe updates by email.
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 strange, doesn’t it? 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.
More vegan pasta recipes
Recipe card
