Vegan Penne Alla Vodka

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to make this GLORIOUS pasta.

Even though I’m typically a pesto on pasta kinda gal, I've had a random craving recently for a creamy, tomato-y pasta. After seeing penne alla vodka all over Instagram and TikTok, I know I had to make a vegan, dairy-free version. I’m shocked at how EASY and delicious this vegan penne alla vodka is and cannot believe that I didn’t think to try making this sooner. I’ve been missing out! Served with some fresh basil on top and alongside roasted broccoli, this is *truly* a perfect meal.

This vegan penne alla vodka is divine. It is:

SUPER easy to make - only a few ingredients, and it comes together in about 20 minutes
Gluten-free if you use GF pasta (I used a delicious brown rice penne)
Made vegan and dairy-free with a silky cashew cream
Salty, comforting and full of flavour

Hope you love it!

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
3 medium shallots, thinly sliced
3 large cloves of garlic, minced
½ tsp chili flakes (adjust based on spice preference)
⅓ cup tomato paste
¼ cup vodka
½ cup raw cashews, soaked
½ cup water + pinch of salt to blend cashews
½ lb pasta of choice (I used brown rice penne)
1 cup reserved pasta cooking water
Lots of sea salt
Lots of fresh black pepper
Fresh basil + parmesan (vegan or regular) to finish

Method

First make your cashew cream by blending the soaked cashews with ½ cup water and a big pinch of salt until smooth. It should be fairly thin - add more water as needed to blend. Set aside.

Cook pasta of choice in well-salted water until al dente, then drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. If using brown rice pasta, make sure to rinse it after draining.

Heat your oil in a large skillet over medium, then add the shallots + garlic with a big pinch of sea salt and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add your tomato paste and cook for a few minutes until it deepens in colour.

Pour in your vodka and let it bubble, then stir. Add in ½ cup of your cashew cream (save any leftover for another use) and about ½ cup of your reserved pasta water. Stir thoroughly until you have a smooth sauce.

Reduce heat to low and add your cooked pasta to the skillet, stirring and cooking until evenly coated in sauce. Taste and add more salt + pepper as desired.

Serve pasta topped with fresh basil, parm and flaky sea salt.

Makes 2 large or 4 small servings

Vegan Penne Alla Vodka