This more healthy penne alla vodka with hen is made with no heavy cream! Pureed roasted greens are my secret for a creamy vodka sauce that tastes simply nearly as good as the unique. Excessive protein, with 42 grams of protein per serving.
Wholesome Penne alla Vodka with Hen
Penne alla vodka is an Italian basic I needed to recreate at house however with some modifications to lighten it up. I skipped the cream, swapping roasted zucchini and onion which I pureed into the sauce, and added hen for additional protein. For much more protein, I served this over protein pasta. Tommy, who orders vodka sauce any likelihood he will get gave this two thumbs up! For extra vodka sauce recipes, do this Penne Alla Vodka with prosciutto and half and half or my Spicy Vodka Hen Parmesan.
Wholesome Penne alla Vodka Elements
- Hen: You’ll want six skinny hen cutlets.
- Seasoning: Season the hen with salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Onion and Garlic: Reduce one onion into half-inch chunks and smash six garlic cloves.
- Zucchini: Roasted zucchini is pureed to make the sauce creamy.
- Shallots: Finely mince one shallot, for taste.
- Salt and Pepper season the vodka sauce.
- Crushed Tomatoes: I really like Tuttorosso’s crushed tomatoes, however purchase no matter you will discover.
- Broth: Use hen or vegetable broth.
- Parmesan: Add freshly grated Parmesan to the sauce, and prime your bowl of pasta with some extra.
- Tomato Paste: Earlier than including the vodka, prepare dinner the tomato paste for a few minutes to toast it.
- Pink Pepper Flakes: Sprinkle the sauce with purple pepper for a little bit of a kick.
- Vodka: Use a good-quality vodka for the sauce, similar to Tito’s.
- Basil: Simmer the sauce with a sprig of basil and garnish with extra.
- Pasta: I used Barilla protein pasta, gluten-free pasta may also work.
Tips on how to Make Penne alla Vodka with Hen
This more healthy vodka sauce recipe is creamy with out utilizing any heavy cream. Right here’s how one can make it:
- Season the hen with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
- Roast Greens: Toss the zucchini, onion, and garlic with oil, salt, and pepper, and roast on a sheet pan till tender and browned.
- Mix the roasted veggies with crushed tomatoes, broth, and parmesan till clean.
- Boil salted water for the pasta.
- Cook dinner the hen on excessive warmth on a grill pan till cooked by way of.
- Tomato Paste and Shallots: Sauté the minced shallot and salt in a Dutch oven or deep, giant skillet. Stir within the tomato paste and purple pepper flakes and prepare dinner for a minute or two.
- Vodka: When you’ve got a fuel range, flip it off or take away your pot from the warmth. Pour within the vodka, scraping the browned bits from the underside of the pan, and return the pot to the warmth. Cook dinner till many of the liquid reduces. Then add the pureed greens, basil, and black pepper, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Cook dinner the penne till al dente in line with package deal instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta water earlier than draining the pot.
- Tips on how to Serve: Take away the basil sprig from the sauce and pour within the reserved water just a little at a time if wanted. Toss the vodka sauce with the penne and switch to 6 bowls. High every one with hen and parmesan.
Variations
- Hen: For those who can’t discover hen cutlets, purchase boneless, skinless hen breasts and minimize them vertically with scissors to make skinny items.
- Meat: Swap hen with Italian hen or turkey sausage.
- Vegetarian Penne alla Vodka: Omit the grilled hen.
- Seasoning: For those who don’t have Italian seasoning, substitute it with no matter dried herbs you might have, like basil, oregano, and parsley.
- Greens: Add spinach to the vodka sauce.
- Zucchini: Substitute zucchini with yellow squash.
- Spiciness: Omit purple pepper flakes for a milder dish, or add extra for an additional kick.
- Pasta: Sub penne with any quick pasta form, like rotini, fusilli, or orecchiette. It’s also possible to use entire wheat or gluten-free pasta for those who desire.
What to Serve with Penne alla Vodka
Since this penne alla vodka has hen and zucchini, it’s an entire meal by itself. Nevertheless, listed here are some aspect dish concepts if you wish to serve it with a veggie:
Storage
Retailer penne alla vodka with hen for as much as 4 days in an hermetic container within the fridge. It’s also possible to freeze it for as much as three months and thaw it within the fridge earlier than microwaving it till heat.
Penne alla Vodka FAQ
Penne alla vodka sauce is primarily fabricated from tomatoes, cream, and vodka. My wholesome vodka sauce recipe has no heavy cream and as an alternative makes use of a roasted vegetable puree to thicken the sauce and provides it an exquisite texture.
Vodka is what distinguishes penne alla vodka from different creamy pasta dishes. It makes the creamy tomato sauce cohesive and enhances its taste.
The alcohol cooks out of the sauce, making it secure for youngsters and individuals who don’t drink alcohol to eat. You’ll be able to swap vodka with white wine, or for those who desire to not prepare dinner with alcohol, omit it. It’ll be good both method!
Extra Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Measurement: 1 3/4 cup pasta with 4 ounces hen
Pasta:
- 1 medium onion, minimize 1/2-inch chunks
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 12 ounces zucchini, peeled and minimize in 1/4-inch slices (from 2 small or 1 giant)
- 2 tablespoons additional virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 shallots, minced wonderful
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus extra for the cooking liquid
- 15 oz can crushed tomatoes, I really like tuttorosso
- 1/2 cup hen or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, recent grated, plus extra for serving
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon purple pepper flakes, or to style
- 3 tablespoons good high quality vodka
- 1 sprig recent basil, plus extra for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon floor black pepper
- 1 lb dry penne pasta
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Preheat the oven to 425F.
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Season the hen with 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and black pepper.
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Toss the zucchini with garlic, onion, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper and unfold on a sheet pan. Roast 25 minutes, till tender and browned, tossing midway. As soon as performed, switch the greens to a big blender and add the crushed tomatoes, broth and parmesan. Puree till very clean.
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In the meantime, fill a big pot with water, salt generously, and produce to a boil.
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Warmth a grill pan on excessive warmth. Spray with oil and prepare dinner the hen, 2 to three minutes per aspect till cooked by way of. Put aside on a chopping board and slice.
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In a Dutch oven, deep giant skillet or pot, add the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium warmth. Saute the minced shallot with 1/2 tsp salt till translucent, 3 to five minutes. Stir within the tomato paste, and purple pepper flakes and prepare dinner 1 to 2 minutes to toast the tomato paste
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When the tomato paste smells caramelized, it’s time so as to add the vodka.
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When you’ve got a fuel range, flip it off or take away the pot from the warmth. Pour within the vodka (it can sizzle!), use your spoon to scrape the browned bits from the underside of the pan, and return the pot to medium warmth. Cook dinner till many of the liquid reduces, about 2 minutes then add the pureed greens together with the basil and black pepper and produce to a delicate simmer, 5 to six minutes when you prepare dinner the pasta.
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In the meantime, drop the pasta into the boiling water, give it a stir, and prepare dinner in line with package deal directions. Cook dinner till the pasta is al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the water, then drain the pasta.
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Take away the basil from the sauce and add reserved pasta water, if wanted. to loosen.
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Toss with the cooked pasta and switch to six bowls. High every with grilled hen, chopped basil, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and serve.
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Serving: 1 3/4 cup pasta with 4 ounces hen, Energy: 519 kcal, Carbohydrates: 66.5 g, Protein: 42.5 g, Fats: 10 g, Saturated Fats: 2 g, Ldl cholesterol: 85.5 mg, Sodium: 700.5 mg, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 10 g
