Delicious and creamy, vegan penne alla vodka, a simple pasta recipe, made with 9 ingredients. Skip the restaurant and make a plant-based version at home.
Who doesn't love pasta? It's one of my favorite foods in the entire world, so I'm always dreaming about coming back to Italy to enjoy its amazing cuisine.
I never get tired of trying new pasta recipes, we actually share a recipe every month on the blog. There are so many pasta recipes out there I feel like I don't have enough time to try them all and I've never made a single one I haven't enjoyed.
We don't drink alcohol or use it to cook very often, but sometimes we do. This pasta can be made without the vodka and is also so good, but it makes the sauce taste even better, so if you don't mind to add some vodka, go for it!
Classic penne alla vodka is made with cream, but we've used cashew cream instead, which is made just blending cashews with water, easy peasy! It's a healthy choice and you can make it at home. I've also seen other versions that add garlic, sausages, bacon or even peas and others use butter to cook the onion. Our version is pretty simple and I think it's just perfect. Hope you enjoy it!
looking for more pasta recipes?
- Vegan mushroom pasta
- Pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans)
- Vegan pasta carbonara
- Pasta primavera
- Pasta arrabiata
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it or tag a picture @simpleveganblog on Instagram and hashtag it #simpleveganblog. We’d love to see what you cook!
Vegan Penne alla Vodka
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cashews, raw and unsalted
- ¼ cup water
- 8 ounces pasta, we used buckwheat penne
- ½ onion, chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne flakes
- 2 tablespoon vodka
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes, tomato puree or tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the cashews and the water to a blender and blend until smooth. To get a smoother consistency, it's better to soak the cashews overnight or in hot water for at least one hour, although it's optional. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In the meanwhile, cook the onion and cayenne flakes over medium-high heat in a skillet with some water or oil until the onion starts to golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Add the vodka and cook over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until is reduced by half. Stir frequently.
- Add the tomatoes, cashew cream, salt and pepper, stir and cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finally, add the pasta, stir and serve immediately. We topped our pasta with some vegan parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil.
- Keep leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Notes
- Use any type of pasta you like (gluten-free if needed).
- Vodka is optional, so you can omit it or use any other alcoholic drink.
- Add your favorite veggies, spices and herbs.
Kimmy says
Thank you Iosune. This recipe was a hit at my house. My husband loved it. At first, my teenager was very hesitant to try. Once she did, she ended up eating 3 portions, each bigger than last. 😂 I had even doubled the recipe and it is almost gone. I have been informed that this recipe needs to be a stable at my house.
We love your recipes. When something I make tastes good to them the first thing they ask is "is this Ionsune's?" (like they know you) and I say, "yes, of course". Keep up the good work 😁
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kimmy! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 I'm so glad all your family knew and loved our recipes!
cho says
Hi,
Can't wait to try this!
Is it possible to substitute cashew with something else?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Maybe you can substitute it with raw almonds 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
Vicky says
Wow, Iosune! This was fantastic! This tastes exactly like the non-vegan version. Thanks for the great recipe. I’ll be making this often.
Iosune says
Hi Vicky! So glad you liked it 🙂
NoVAMomof5 says
Just made this today and my husband and teenagers loved it! Next time I would double the recipe, but other than that, this was absolutely a wonderful way to enjoy the richness of a vodka sauce without the guilt! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Iosune says
Hi! You're so welcome 🙂 I'm SO glad you guys liked it so much!
Jennifer says
Can this be made ahead of time and frozen? This looks like it'd be a great recipe to meal prep for weekday lunches.
Iosune says
Hi Jennifer! I would keep the pasta and the sauce separately, but I think it could work 🙂
Barbara Stewart says
Made this tonight. It was so easy and delicious. Better than any restaurant! Will definitely make it again.
Iosune says
Hi Barbara! Thanks a lot 🙂 I'm so happy to hear that!
Aaron says
When do you add the cayenne? Instructions aren't clear.
Iosune says
Hi Aaron! I'm so sorry, I forgot about it. I've already fixed it 🙂 I sautéed it with the onion (step number 3). Have a nice day!
Aaron says
Thanks! This was really, really yummy!
Iosune says
So glad you liked it!