Description
This vegan vodka sauce is creamy, rich, and comforting without using any dairy. Made with cashew cream and tomato paste, it delivers the classic flavor of traditional vodka sauce while remaining completely plant-based.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- ¼ cup vodka
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 20–30 minutes
- 1 cup water (for blending with cashews)
- 12 ounces pasta (like rigatoni or penne)
- Fresh basil, for serving (optional)
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in hot water for 20–30 minutes. Drain before using.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt. Cook for 1–2 more minutes until fragrant.
- Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes until it darkens and caramelizes slightly.
- Pour in the vodka and stir, letting it simmer for about 2 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
- Meanwhile, blend the soaked cashews with 1 cup of water until completely smooth to make cashew cream.
- Lower the heat and stir the cashew cream into the tomato mixture until fully combined. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat. Add pasta water as needed to thin the sauce.
- Serve immediately with fresh basil and additional black pepper if desired.
Notes
- Soaking the cashews helps them blend into a creamy sauce—don’t skip this step unless using a high-powered blender.
- You can substitute vodka with water or broth, though it will slightly alter the flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
