Vegan Penne Alla Vodka Recipe | Aline Made (2024)

FAQs

What is penne alla vodka made of? ›

Penne alla vodka (Italian: [ˈpenne alla ˈvɔdka]) is a pasta dish made primarily with vodka and penne (or similar shapes such as rigatoni), usually accompanied with heavy cream, crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce, onions, and sometimes small meats and vegetables such as sausage, pancetta or peas.

This variation of penne with vodka sauce substitutes sour cream for the heavy cream in the original. The sour cream adds a tangy flavor to the sauce, another layer of complexity.

Adding white vinegar to your cooking is another vodka substitute. It works similarly to lime juice and apple cider, but with fewer sweet notes and more briney flavors coming through, which can be a good contrast for tomato-based sauces such as vodka pasta.

Normally it includes real cream for richness but I'm using reduced-fat milk. Great news though, it still retains the decadent flavor of a regular recipe but with a fraction of the fat and calories. In addition, I've placed it over fiber rich whole wheat penne instead of white pasta.

Wine works, too, but a clean-tasting vodka has mostly water and ethanol (a solvent), which is excellent at carrying aromatic compounds — like those in tomatoes. In other words, the vodka in this dish can help you smell, and in turn taste, the sauce's flavors in a heightened way.

The Importance of Vodka in Penne alla Vodka

And yes, the vodka really does matter here. We know, because we've done the tests before. Several years ago, Kenji delved into the matter of whether vodka sauce really needed the vodka, and the answer was an unequivocal yes (though the sauce is delicious without it, too).

Whole milk is an excellent substitute for heavy cream. It adds richness to your pasta sauce without the excess fat. Simply simmer your favourite pasta sauce with whole milk until it thickens to your desired consistency. The result is a velvety and indulgent sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta.

If you don't think ziti is all that dissimilar to penne, look again. Ziti is both shorter and thicker than it's quilled counterpart, and typically has a smooth exterior—though there are “rigate” variations on ziti.

If you are wondering if you can make Vodka Sauce without Vodka, the answer is yes! This vodka sauce without vodka is creamy, tangy, and a little sweet. It is such a great and delicious pasta sauce and you truly will not miss the vodka. In this recipe, I use balsamic vinegar to give this sauce some extra depth.

What is a good substitute for alcohol in pasta? ›

Yes, a vodka pasta sauce should be safe for children, if cooked thoroughly. Traditional vodka sauce uses such a small amount of alcohol that it should evaporate out during cooking.

🗒 Substitutions

If you want no alcohol at all, you can use lemon water, chicken broth, or stock. Cream: Use heavy cream. This can be labeled as “table cream” in the store. You can also substitute it for half and half which works just as well.

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream. This mixture is not suitable for whipping. Best for: cooking and baking.

A nondairy milk (such as soy or almond) and a neutral oil (like vegetable or canola) can replicate heavy cream in certain recipes—namely, sauces and soups, but also some baked goods.

Vodka sauce is a tomato-based sauce that's spiked with a hint of vodka for extra tanginess, then softened with a splash of heavy cream that gives the sauce a gorgeous reddish-orange color. It can be used in a wide variety of Italian recipes.

A good rule of thumb: about 40% of the alcohol remains after 15 minutes; 20% remains after 1 hour. Even though the vodka portion per person is small (about 1 tablespoon), this is not the dish to make for someone who avoids alcohol.

Liquor or Spirits

Vodka has an ABV starting around 40 percent, but it can range as high as 95 percent. Gin: This type of liquor starts with a neutral distilled spirit, to which juniper berries and other aromatic botanicals are added. It is clear and has an ABV of 36-50 percent.