Description
Penne alla vodka brings Italian comfort to your kitchen with a nutritious twist. Creamy, protein-packed sauce and whole wheat pasta create a delightful meal you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) dry penne pasta
- 28 ounces (794 grams) canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (226 grams) cottage cheese (4% milkfat recommended)
Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) diced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
Seasonings and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons vodka
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil (or 1/4 cup fresh chopped)
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) pasta water (reserved)
Instructions
- Pulverize crushed tomatoes and cottage cheese in a blender until achieving a silky, blush-colored consistency. Set creamy mixture aside.
- Ignite a large water-filled pot to boiling temperature, preparing for pasta cooking.
- Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium flame. Sauté diced onions and minced garlic for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Pour vodka into the aromatic mixture, allowing alcohol to evaporate and concentrate flavors for approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce tomato-cheese blend and selected seasonings into the skillet. Reduce heat and simmer gently, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Immerse penne pasta into rapidly boiling water. Cook until perfectly al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Extract and preserve 1/4 cup pasta liquid before draining.
- Extinguish flame under sauce. Fold cooked pasta into creamy mixture, incorporating grated parmesan and reserved cooking liquid. Toss thoroughly until pasta becomes uniformly glazed and luxuriously coated.
Notes
- Lighten Up Swap traditional heavy cream with cottage cheese for a protein-packed, lower-fat sauce that maintains creamy texture and tangy flavor.
- Boost Nutrition Choose whole wheat or legume-based penne to increase fiber and protein content, making the dish more balanced and satisfying.
- Customize Spice Level Adjust red pepper flakes to personal heat preference, allowing everyone from mild-lovers to spice enthusiasts to enjoy the dish.
- Dietary Flexibility Make this recipe gluten-free by using alternative pasta and ensuring vodka is gluten-free, perfect for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg