Pasta with a Healthy Creamy Pumpkin Vodka Sauce
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 150kcal
Creamy, but non-dairy, and delicious, this pumpkin pasta sauce is a n unexpected surprise. It's a simple recipe that comes together in just 10 minutes and relies on ingredients you might already have in your pantry. Get ready to enjoy the flavors of fall with this delicious healthy pumpkin sauce recipe.
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Equipment
- Medium Sauté Pan
- Stock Pot
Ingredients
- 1-2 cloves garlic grated or finely minced or more to taste!
- 15 oz can pumpkin puree about 1.5-2 cups
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup vodka
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or other neutral-ish vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric optional
- dash red pepper flakes for spice optional
- 1 cup creamy non-dairy milk such as almond or cashew
- 1 lb. pasta of choice
- ½ cup pasta water as needed
- garnish: fresh herbs and vegan parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Mince, grate, or crush garlic. Set aside for 10 minutes to activate allicin, if desired. (See notes.)
- Mince the shallot.
- Over medium heat dry saute the shallot for about 30 seconds to 1 minute then add the garlic. Stir for 30 seconds more. Lower heat slightly and pour in the vodka. Let it sizzle.
- Next, add the tomato paste and working quickly, really mix it around. We’re cooking this until it reaches a red brick color.
- Next add vinegar, pumpkin puree, herbs, and seasonings. Stir to combine abpout 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly stir in the plant-based milk, then cook over low heat for about 5 minutes. Taste to adjust seasoning as desired.
- Meanwhile, cook 1/2 lb of pasta in water with salt. Reserve at least 1/2 cup of pasta water for thinning out the sauce.
- To serve with pasta, add cooked pasta to sauce and stir well. Top Add pasta water 2 tablsppopns at a time to thin out sauce as needed. Garnish
- Garnish with fresh herbs (parsley!) and Parmesan cheese and serve. Or - use this delicious sauce for pizza or lasagna!
Notes
- If you are really in a bind, you can replace the fresh garlic with 1/2 teaspoon powdered garlic.
- Dairy Alternatives: Be aware that if you use oat milk, it is sweeter than other plant-based milk options and will influence the flavor. I prefer to use plant-based milks that are unsweetened.
- Also, check the ingredient list to ensure you are selecting one with no oil or unnecessary additives.
- For activation of anti-microbial allicin in garlic, it is recommended that you wait 10 minutes after mincing garlic before adding it to the heat. Crushing or cutting garlic starts the activation, but once added to the heat, no additional allicin will be activated!
Nutrition
Calories: 150kcal
