For a lighter version of your favorite vodka penne, try this perfectly creamy, super easy vegan version! Canned tomatoes make this sauce a cinch to whip up for a quick weeknight dinner, and City Feed’s got you covered. We carry a number of CADIA products, including diced tomatoes, tomatoes with basil, and tomato paste. They’re super affordable, taste amazing, and they’re the perfect base for chili, soup, or of course this indulgent vodka sauce!
Ingredients:
Olive oil
2/3 c vodka
1 onion, diced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c raw cashews
1/4 c nutritional yeast
3/4 oz fresh basil, chopped
1 t sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
Red pepper flakes, to taste
1 lb penne pasta, cooked
Vegan feta or Parmesan cheese to garnish
A few hours before you want to start cooking, cover cashews with boiling water and set aside to soften. If you have a high powered blender, you can skip this step.
Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a medium saucepan, and sauté the diced onion for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, just until the garlic is fragrant. Carefully pour in vodka and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the alcohol burns off completely. Add tomato paste, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and sauté for 30 seconds. Pour in the whole can of diced tomatoes, including the liquid. Add sugar and chopped fresh basil, reserving a few tablespoons of basil to garnish. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Drain cashews, then add them to a blender or food processor with the tomato mixture and nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth. Pour sauce over cooked pasta, and garnish with fresh basil and cheese.
Julia Massicotte will be creating and sharing recipes that showcase ingredients you can buy at City Feed every week! Currently working for us as a Floor Supervisor at City Feed and Supply, Julia is also a trained opera singer, avid fiber artist, and enthusiastic cook. She’s been helping her mother in the kitchen since infancy, but started cooking independently when she went vegetarian in sixth grade (she’s vegan now!). She favors simple recipes that bring out the best flavor in the fruits and vegetables she loves. She also enjoys venturing into more complicated recipes, including baking bread and sweets! Julia is looking forward to sharing the tips and tricks she’s learned over the last 20 years—keep your eyes peeled for her original recipes, and visit City Feed today to chat veggies with her!
