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A lighter version of the Italian favorite. My recipe for Penne alla Vodka has all of the luscious, creamy texture of the original but is completely guilt free!
I’ll be honest, this was a hard one to lighten up. It has been so highly requested on Instagram, so I tried about 3 or 4 variations until I arrived at this magical combination.
Traditional Penne alla Vodka has tomatoes, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese as the base. For lighter cream sauces, I usually rely on a combination of: half and and half to add some richness, almond milk to bulk it up while keeping the points/calories down, and cornstarch to maintain the thickness of a heavy cream.
Well, that went all wrong. The acidity from the tomatoes curdled the milk/cornstarch mixture. So much so that it all separated and became watery and goopy. The worst combination.
I was ready to give up, but then I remembered the trick to my Skinny Alfredo Sauce that makes it creamy, cheesy, and completely emulsified–cream cheese!
Reduced-fat cream cheese adds the creaminess and tang you want in a vodka sauce without worrying about curdling. Add in that grated parmesan, and you have yourself a luxuriously creamy tomato sauce. It rivals any Italian joint’s artery-clogging version!
ingredient alterations
- I don’t know about you, but I like a REALLY creamy vodka sauce. If you prefer the tomatoes to be more prominent, then add less cream cheese.
- The vodka really does add a delightful mouth feel and a little extra something flavor wise, but if you don’t want to use it, veggie or chicken stock should be fine.
- The quality of tomatoes do make a difference. Plum tomatoes are always better, and San Marzano are the best.
- You could omit the sugar, but it cuts through the sometimes tinny flavor of canned tomatoes.
Once your sauce is ready, add in your pasta and simmer it in with the sauce for a few minutes. Add in your reserved pasta water or stock until you get the texture you want.
After the pasta and sauce meld together, you’re ready to serve! If you want the ultimate light Italian dinner, serve this pasta dish along with a side salad, perhaps topped with my Light Caesar Dressing. A match made in heaven!
If you want to bulk up the meal even more, top the pasta with some grilled shrimp or chicken breast. Are you drooling yet?
Many people think that food that looks this good, especially lightened-up versions, take hours and a lot of labor to make. That simply isn’t true.
This pasta dish takes 30 minutes at the most. If you saute or grill up your meat while the pasta is cooking and have that Caesar already waiting in the fridge (it takes like 5 minutes to make, btw), you’ll have a hugely impressive meal waiting for you!
I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there.
Print Recipe
Penne alla Vodka
A lighter version of the Italian favorite. My recipe for Penne alla Vodka has all of the luscious, creamy texture of the original but is completely guilt free!
Servings: 7
Calories: 330kcal
Author: Geri
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried whole wheat penne
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28 ounce can crushed plum tomatoes
- 1/3 cup vodka (you can use stock and reduce points by 1 per serving)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan
Instructions
Boil your penne in a large pot of salted water. Undercook by 1 minute, according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of salted pasta water before draining. Set aside.
In a very large skillet or dutch oven, saute minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat ad add in tomatoes, vodka, onion powder, sugar, dried basil, salt, and pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 8-10 minutes. This will be enough time for the alcohol to burn off.
Cut your cream cheese into small squares. Whisk a couple of squares at a time into your sauce until melted. Repeat until all cream cheese is incorporated.
Turn burner to low. Whisk parmesan cheese into sauce, then add in cooked penne. Increase heat to medium-low and cook until pasta and sauce are melded together. Splash in reserved pasta water as you go until you reach the consistency you like.
Notes
Click hereto determine your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically). Serving size is 1 1/3 cup pasta and sauce
Green WW SmartPoints: 9 for 1 1/3 cup pasta and sauce
Blue WW SmartPoints: 9 for 1 1/3 cup pasta and sauce
Purple WW SmartPoints: 3 for 1 1/3 cup pasta and sauce
Nutrition
Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 121mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g
FAQs
In other words, the vodka in this dish can help you smell, and in turn taste, the sauce's flavors in a heightened way. According to the Journal of Food Science, the ethanol also helps more evenly disperse the fat, keeping the emulsified sauce bound, glossy and creamy.
What protein to pair with vodka pasta? ›
Luckily, vodka sauce pairs well with virtually all proteins, but some of the most popular meat choices include:
- Chicken. Chicken and Italian food are a match made in culinary heaven. ...
- Shrimp. ...
- Italian Sausage. ...
- Penne. ...
- Rigatoni. ...
- Orecchiette.
The recipe became very popular in Italy and in the United States around the 1980s, when it was offered to discothèque customers. The recipe thus became an icon of the fashionable cuisine of the time, which preferred the use of cream in first courses. Penne alla vodka remains popular in Italian-American cuisine.
What do you eat with pasta alla vodka? ›
What to Serve with Penne Alla Vodka
- Salad. A green salad, such as this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad always goes well with pasta and vodka sauce.
- Vegetables. Either Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Roasted Frozen Broccoli would be delicious as a side dish.
- Bread. ...
- Italian Appetizers.
Vodka Sauce is great with Penne Ziti, but you can create a much more elaborate pasta creation with hot or sweet Italian sausage, classic meatballs or mini meatballs or chicken. The dish of pasta and sauce can be complemented with a leafy green salad, roasted vegetables, sautéed greens, garlic bread and more.
Do you actually put vodka in penne alla vodka? ›
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).
What makes penne alla vodka so delicious it's all in the sauce? ›
In other words, the vodka in this dish can help you smell, and in turn taste, the sauce's flavors in a heightened way. According to the Journal of Food Science, the ethanol also helps more evenly disperse the fat, keeping the emulsified sauce bound, glossy and creamy.
Are you supposed to taste vodka in penne alla vodka? ›
In a vodka sauce, the vodka helps maintain a cohesive texture, allowing the creaminess to meld with the tomato base. And sure, you could use wine to the same effect, but in a sauce as rich as vodka sauce, it's better to use a small amount of alcohol that will impart as little of its own flavor as possible.
Why is vodka pasta so good? ›
This means that undiluted alcohol overpowers natural flavors, but smaller traces (typically achieved by "burning off" the vodka) actually release new flavors. So it's not that vodka adds flavor, it's that vodka unlocks flavors already hidden in the tomato. Pretty cool, huh?
Does it matter what vodka you use for vodka pasta? ›
I prefer to use whole tomatoes and feel they make a better sauce, but you could substitute crushed tomatoes in a pinch. Vodka. Use a plain, unflavored vodka. Pretty much any brand will work here, it doesn't need to be the most expensive brand.
The Five Best Proteins to Pair with Vodka Sauce
The first is grilled chicken, which pairs well with the creamy texture and mellow flavor of the sauce. Another great option is shrimp, which adds a pop of sweetness and a light texture that balances well with the richness of the vodka sauce.
Is penne alla vodka unhealthy? ›
Vodka sauce alone is usually around 207 calories, this dish, sauce and pasta included is only 283 calories 49.1 grams carbs / 1.9 grams fat / 14.9 grams protein. Is pasta and vodka sauce bad for you? No, absolutely not! No food is inherently bad for you if you watch your portion sizes.
Is Gigi Hadid pasta penne alla vodka? ›
Of course, since Gigi made it, and it's a simple recipe to follow, it gained instant popularity. But technically it is pretty much just penne alla vodka. A lot of people search for it based on her viral post though, who might not realize it's similar to a traditional dish or who are new to cooking.
Is Gigi Hadid pasta vodka sauce? ›
Gigi Hadid Spicy “Vodka” Pasta
It's a spicy vodka sauce but without the vodka. It's super creamy, indulgent, and the best pasta dish to make for any occasion. It always impresses yet it's so easy to make.
What to serve with penne and vodka sauce? ›
The best side dishes to serve with penne alla vodka are crispy green beans, caprese salad, stuffed mushrooms, chicken nuggets, ratatouille, kale chips, brussels sprouts with bacon, crispy garlic bread, Italian antipasto salad, grilled chicken, roasted asparagus, shrimp scampi, and Italian stuffed peppers.
What is penne usually served with? ›
The Best Sauces For Penne Pasta
In Italy, penne pasta dishes usually consist of heavier meat ragùs and chunkier tomato sauces. Some of the most celebrated Italian penne pasta recipes include Penne alla Vodka, a creamy tomato sauce with a slight kick, and Arrabbiata of Southern Italy, a super spicy tomato sauce.
What pasta shape goes with vodka sauce? ›
Preferably a shape that the sauce will stick well to the noodle. Rigatoni or bucatini.
What drink goes with penne pasta? ›
White wines like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling can also be the best wines for pasta dishes. Served with different sauces — cream-based, pesto, or tomato-based sauce, pasta dishes pair well with the wines' flavors.
