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Penne a la Vodka

One of my favorite Italian pasta dishes, this pink sauce pasta is flavorful and perfect for the entire family!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Italian, Vegan
Keyword easy vegan pasta recipe, penne a la vodka recipe, pink sauce pasta recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 servings
Calories 481kcal
Author Anjali Lalani

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. penne pasta , gluten-free option: use any gluten-free pasta (see notes)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp vegan butter
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 large white onion , chopped
  • 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil , finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup vodka , optional
  • 1/4 cup raw cashews , soaked overnight and drained
  • 1/3 cup vegan parmesan cheese , optional
  • 10 oz. mushrooms , diced in quarters or halves
  • 1 teasp red crushed pepper , optional
  • salt
  • ground black pepper

Instructions

To Make Cashew Cream:

  • Combine the cashews with about 1 cup water in a blender and blend until completely smooth and creamy (this may take a few minutes).

To Make Sauce:

  • In a medium non-stick pot, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp vegan butter on medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and sauté until the onions start to become translucent.
  • If you are using vodka, stir it in and cook for 10-15 minutes.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil and simmer uncovered for about 15 min.
  • In the meantime, in a non-stick pan heat 1 tbsp olive oil on medium heat. Add the mushrooms and sauté until all the water is released and the mushrooms just begin to brown/roast. Sprinkle some salt and set aside.
  • Stir the cream (heavy cream or cashew cream) into the sauce and cook for a few minutes or until the sauce has thickened to liking.
  • Add vegan parmesan cheese (if using) and red crushed pepper. Simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes.
  • In the meantime, boil the Penne pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • Add the sautéed mushrooms into the sauce.
  • Add salt/pepper to taste.
  • Serve the sauce over penne pasta and serve hot!

Notes

For Gluten-Free Pasta - use brown rice noodles or your favorite lentil pasta (Tinkyada or Explore Cuisine brands).

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 796mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 578IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 4mg