Vegan Vodka Sauce is ready in just 30 minutes with minimal prep. It's rich, creamy, packed with flavour, and because it's a dairy-free vodka sauce, no heavy cream is required. Toss through freshly cooked pasta for a delicious dinner!
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You really can't go wrong when a meal involves piles of pasta, creamy, garlicky, tangy tomato sauce and vodka. It's definitely a win-win kind of situation!
With an acidic tomato base, finished with rich cashew cream, and balance from the vodka, which provides slight background heat and sharpness, it is so delicious.
And even though this Vegan Vodka Sauce recipe is totally dairy-free, it's so incredibly creamy and indulgent. Toss through some penne for a classic vegan Penne alla Vodka, or use any other sturdy pasta of choice. It's even great with gnocchi!
I love to serve this with HUGE amounts of vegan parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, fresh basil leaves, and some vegan garlic bread or no-knead focaccia on the side.
So let the P-A-R-T-Y begin...Here's to diving headfirst into piles of pasta with creamy, Vegan Vodka Sauce!
Mel x
Ingredients
Here is what you need at a glance, along with some important ingredient notes & substitution ideas:
- Raw cashews - Because this is a dairy-free vodka sauce we are using a quick and simple cashew cream instead of the usual heavy cream. See the FAQs for nut-free alternatives.
- Vodka - When choosing alcohol for cooking, a good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't drink it, you shouldn't cook with it. Very cheap vodka can taste like paint thinner and could ruin your sauce. I recommend using a mid-range priced vodka.
- Crushed tomatoes - Use the best canned crushed tomatoes you can afford. I highly recommend San Marzano if you can. When it comes to canned tomatoes you really get what you pay for when it comes to flavour.
- Pasta - Although Vegan Vodka Sauce is traditionally served with penne (a.k.a Penne alla Vodka), feel free to use your favourite pasta shape, although keep in mind that it should be a sturdy pasta with plenty of ridges. Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
Blending Tip
If you don't have a high-powered blender, soak the cashews in boiling water for 15 minutes, then drain well, prior to making the cashew cream. This will ensure you get a beautifully silky smooth cream.
What Does Vodka Add To Pasta Sauce?
In vodka sauce or Penne alla Vodka, the vodka provides background heat and a slight sharpness, which really balances the creamy tomato sauce. It also emulsifies the sauce, bonding the olive oil, tomato and cashew cream together to create a cohesive, super creamy, luscious sauce.
In addition, it enhances flavour, just like salt does. Known as the “volatility effect”, alcohol bonds with both fat and water molecules, bridging the gap between our aroma receptors (which respond only to molecules that can be dissolved in fat) and food (which consists primarily of water). This is crucial, because most of the great flavour in our food actually comes from the aromas in our noses and not the tastes in the mouth.
How To Make Vegan Vodka Sauce
Can't wait to make Vegan Penna alla Vodka? The full printable recipe is below, but first, let me walk you through the steps to set you up for success in your kitchen. I recommend watching my recipe video if you're more of a visual learner:
1 - Saute the onions and garlic.
2 - Add the canned tomatoes and blended cashew cream.
3 - Simmer until thick and creamy.
4 - Cook the pasta, add it to the sauce along with some pasta water and toss together to coat.
Pasta Success Tip
Pasta water! Yes, the starchy boiling water you cooked the pasta in. Before draining the pasta, scoop out a mug full, then when tossing the pasta in the sauce, add a splash of the pasta cooking water. The sauce will become extra glossy and cling to your pasta better!
Recipe FAQs
The good news is that most distilled spirits, including vodka, are naturally vegan, but the Barnivore website is a great resource for checking which alcoholic beverages are vegan if you aren't sure about a particular brand.
Vodka sauce just wouldn't be vodka sauce without it! See my section above about What does vodka add to pasta sauce. If you'd rather not use it, try this cherry tomato sauce instead.
Instead of cashews, use ¾ cup (180ml) of any unsweetened vegan culinary cream or creamy canned coconut milk.
Recipe
Vegan Vodka Sauce
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
- ½ cup (70 grams) raw cashews , see recipe notes for sub
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- 2 tbsp olive oil , or water for oil-free
- 1 medium onion , diced finely
- 4 large cloves garlic , minced
- 1 x 28 oz (796 ml) can crushed tomatoes , the best you can afford. I highly recommend San Marzano if you can.
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes , add a few more if you like it spicy!
- 1½ teaspoon dried oregano , or dried basil
- ½ cup (120 ml) vodka
- 2 teaspoon fine sea salt , if using table salt reduce as necessary
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon white or cane sugar
- 1 lb (453 grams) pasta of choice , I like penne or rigatoni. (Use GF pasta if necessary)
For serving
- vegan parmesan
- fresh basil
INSTRUCTIONS
- First make the cashew cream. Blend the cashews with the water until completely silky smooth. If you don't have a high powered blender soak the cashews in boiling water for 15 minutes before blending. Set aside.
- Place a large saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot add the onions and saute for about 5 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for one minute more, stirring frequently before adding the canned tomatoes, red pepper flakes and oregano. Bring to a gentle simmer then let it cook for 5 minutes.
- Spoon in the cashew cream, making sure to scrape the blender out well with a spatula, then pour in the vodka and add the salt, pepper and sugar.
- Simmer gently, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes or so, or until thick and creamy. The longer you simmer it the thicker it will get.
- While it's simmering away bring a large pan of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta. Be sure to only cook until al dente (just tender with some bite).
- Once the pasta is cooked, scoop out 1 mug (just a regular drinking mug) full of the pasta water and set it aside, before draining the pasta through a sieve or colander.
- Pour the cooked pasta into the vodka sauce and stir to combine, adding a good amount of the reserved pasta water to thin as needed. I usually use about half a mug.
- Serve immediately with plenty of vegan parmesan and some fresh basil if you have it.
NOTES
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Verna Allen says
Can you substitute the vodka with something else?
Melanie McDonald says
It's vodka sauce so no not really. You might prefer this recipe: https://avirtualvegan.com/cherry-tomato-sauce/
Karen Becker says
Made the cashew free version (used coconut milk) for dinner on the weekend along with some Beyond sausage and Caesar salad. It was delicious!
Michelle Thompson says
Another dinner winner!
Stephanie says
I love this sauce! I added some zucchini for extra veggie power.
Definitely don’t recommend using black bean noodles in place of pasta 🤣. It was all I had. Real pasta for sure next time!
Nathalie says
A breeze to prepare and absolutely delicious!!!!
Mandy says
Another big hit! 😄 Thanks! And I really like that your recipes are tasty, quick, easy and if you say it will take 25 minutes, it is really true!! Many other sites say itll take onlyb25 mibutes from start to finish and an hour in I'm still at it! Annoying!! So appreciate you and your recipes! Thank you!
Melanie McDonald says
You're so welcome Mandy. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it!
Whack says
Hi Mel,
This is brilliant! I do what I can to be as near SOS (Salt, Oil and Sugar free) as possible, so I sautéd the onions and garlic in water.
I also used Barilla vegan pasta. I didn't need to reserve the water, but did anyway to try it out "your way" and it worked spectacularly.
Thanks for another first rate post!
---Whack
Mindy Richmond says
After having Vegan Vodka Sauce Pasta for the first time at a restaurant 2 weeks ago, I was so excited to have found this recipe in my inbox. I made this past weekend exactly as written and it was delicious! It’s now been added to the dinner rotation. Thank you.
Melanie McDonald says
I'm really pleased you enjoyed it Mindy and thanks so much for coming back to leave a review. It's much appreciated!
Billise Akins says
Can I use raw sunflower seeds in place of cashews??
Melanie McDonald says
I haven't tried it with sunflower seeds. There are nut-free options in the recipe notes though. Those include vegan culinary cream or creamy coconut milk. Both of those have been tested and work well.