Magnifico, Skinny Penne Alla Vodka Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 (28 ounces) can of whole tomatoes or chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup onions, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup Grey Goose or another premium quality vodka, see shopping tips
- 1 cup reduced-fat milk (2%)
- 12 ounces dry whole wheat penne pasta
- 6 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoon minced fresh basil for topping, optional
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, puree half the canned tomatoes until smooth. Chop the remaining tomatoes into ½ inch pieces, discarding the cores.
- In a large, nonstick saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add onions and tomato paste and cook until onions are lightly golden, about 2 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in pureed and chopped tomatoes and add salt. Remove pan from heat and mix in vodka. Return pan to medium heat and simmer, stirring often, until the alcohol flavor is cooked off, about 8 minutes. Lower heat if simmering becomes too vigorous. Stir in milk and cook about 1 minute more, until hot.
- In the meantime, in a large pot, cook pasta according to directions on package, except, no need to add oil or salt to pot. Make sure to cook al dente, not overcooked. Drain.
- Return drained pasta to same pot, add cooked sauce and mix until combined. Cook over medium heat until pasta absorbs some of the sauce.
- Plate each serving and top with 1 tablespoon of cheese and a little basil, if desired. If you aren’t serving 6, this sauce freezes great for another time.
- Note: this recipe can easily be cut in half to make 3 servings.
Nutrition
Serving: 1.66cupCalories: 329kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 14gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 489mgFiber: 9gSugar: 6gBlue Smart Points: 9Green Smart Points: 9Plus Points: 8