Healthier Penne alla Vodka

I could eat a steaming bowl of pasta marinara every night for dinner and be perfectly happy, but my family not so much. I've learned over the years that if I keep changing up the sauce, I can slip a bowl of pasta into mealtime a little more often. Trying not to stray too far from my favorite, I decided on Healthier Penne Alla Vodka. I sauteed a small handful of pancetta, aromatics, followed by vodka and tomatoes. Once the base sauce had simmered, I finished it off with a dash of cream and yogurt. The result is a creamy and smooth, delicious sauce perfect for any night of the week. The good news is it's just as mouth-watering without the pancetta if you're craving this on meatless Monday.

Ingredients for Healthier Penne alla Vodka:

1 pound Penne Rigate, cooked according to package directions

2 ounces diced pancetta

1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes

1/4 cup water

1 cup finely diced onions

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup 2 % greek yogurt

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup vodka

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon crushed pepper

1/3 cup parmesan cheese plus more for serving

Time-Saving Tip: Prepare the sauce up until adding the cream and yogurt and refrigerate for a day. Bring to a simmer before proceeding with the recipe.

Let's see what we need.

We're ready to cook.

Process half of the canned tomatoes and crush the other half with your hand.

Combine the heavy cream and yogurt until smooth; set aside.

Saute the pancetta and oil for 2 minutes; add the onion and crushed red pepper. Cook for another 3 minutes and add the tomato paste and garlic.

Pour in the vodka and bring to a boil; simmer for a minute. Add the tomatoes, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer an additional 5 minutes; add the yogurt mixture and parmesan cheese and stir until combined.

Toss the pasta and sauce together.

It's ready! Healthier Penne Alla Vodka is delicious. The pancetta adds smokiness and the yogurt adds creaminess and brightness to the sauce, This pasta is delicious any night of the week and special enough for serving to weekend guests.

Enjoy!

Healthier Penne alla Vodka:

• 1 pound Penne Rigate, cooked according to package directions

• 2 ounces diced pancetta

• 1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes

• 1/4 cup water

• 1 cup finely diced onions

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 cup 2 % greek yogurt

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup vodka

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1/4 teaspoon crushed pepper

• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese plus more for serving

• Process half of the canned tomatoes and crush the other half with your hand.

• Combine the heavy cream and yogurt until smooth; set aside.

• Saute the pancetta and oil for 2 minutes; add the onion and crushed red pepper. Cook for another 3 minutes and add the tomato paste and garlic.

• Pour in the vodka and bring to a boil; simmer for a minute. Add the tomatoes, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer an additional 5 minutes; add the yogurt mixture and parmesan cheese and stir until combined.

• Toss the pasta and sauce together.

• Time-Saving Tip: Prepare the sauce up until adding the cream and yogurt and refrigerate for a day. Bring to a simmer before proceeding with the recipe.