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Mary Anne here. I realize that we’re only just recovering from Super Bowl splurges and now Cupid’s arrow is aimed squarely at our sweet tooth, so it only seems logical to eat light, lo-cal meals. But I’m sorry, the thermometer has been plummeting here on the East Coast and the wind chill is dancing with sub-zero. Another big fat brrr-cicle is dangling over us so I’m left craving creamy, carb-loaded dishes. I’m only human.
This dish was actually inspired by a leftover piece of brie, lingering in its lonely solitude in my cheese drawer. As I began fantasizing about a big bowl of Penne Vodka, I wondered what it would be like if I swapped out the traditional cup o ‘cream in favor of my last bit of brie. Heavenly is what it was! I’d like to think I cut a few calories by using 1% milk, but I swear you would never know the difference. This dish is the perfect mid-winter treat since it reheats beautifully, takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, and if you’re living with a virtuous dieter (like I am), you’ll have a few nights of delicious dining all to yourself. Mangia!
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Penne alla Vodka
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1-28 oz. can diced tomatoes – $1.00
1 shallot, diced – $0.37
1 clove garlic, minced – stock
1 Tablespoon olive oil – stock
1/8 Teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste – stock
¼ lb. smoked ham, chopped fine – $2.25
½ cup milk (or cream) – I used 1% milk – stock
1/3 cup vodka – $8.99
4 oz. brie, rind removed and cheese chopped – $2.39
½ cup grated parmesan or romano cheese: – $1.99
1 Teaspoon dried basil
1 lb. whole wheat penne – $1.19
Grand Total Assuming Well-Stocked Pantry: $18.18
Total Per Serving: $3.03
Directions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté the shallots and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the vodka to the pan and simmer 2 minutes over med-low heat..
3. Add the canned tomatoes, juice and all, the milk and the parmesan and brie cheese. Season with red pepper flakes and basil. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the cheese has melted, about 5-8 minutes.
4. Transfer the vodka sauce to the bowl of a food processor armed with the metal blade. Puree until smooth, pulsing a few times if necessary. You may need to transfer in batches depending on the size of your appliance.
5. Return the sauce to the skillet, add the diced ham and heat over a med-low or low flame for about 10 minutes (simmer, don’t boil the sauce). The sauce will thicken up even more during this phase.
6. Meanwhile, cook the penne in a large pot of salted, boiling water.
7. Reserve about a ½ cup of the pasta water to moisten the cooked pasta, if desired.
8. Serve the warm sauce over the pasta and sprinkle with grated cheese, if desired.
Looks great, ladies! Not something I’ve made myself yet! 🙂
Hi Liz. This recipe is super easy and another reader wrote that she has had equally good results using cream cheese or goat cheese, which sounds delish. Let us know if you give it a whirl! Best, M & M
So brie is my favorite cheese of all time…and I do like a good vodka, what a wonderful idea. I have made it with cream cheese once and goat cheese once and both turned out beautifully also.
This is such a nice version of a kitchen classic. The brie is a great addition. This is my first visit to your blog. I spent some time browsing through your earlier entries and must tell you how much I like the food and recipe you feature here. I’ll be back. I hope you both have a wonderful day. Blessings…Mary
Thank you so much, Mary. Lovely to hear from you and we wish you a wonderful day, as well! Best, M & M
Oh how a love a big hot bowl of penne vodka. I love your idea of adding brie. I can only imagine how delicious that was! Beautiful picture as well!
$8.99 for a third of a cup of Vodka? What brand do you drink?
Nothing fancy, that’s for sure! We just priced out how much it might cost to go buy a small bottle, in case your pantry is dry…
I’ve never tried penne vodka, yours looks so good I’m gonna have to try it!
Ladies, your new site looks great. Hmm, yummy, Penne alla Vodka.
🙂 Mandy
There’s just not much better, in my opinion, than a big bowl of creamy, cheesy, tomato-y pasta. And I love a pasta with vodka sauce. I know that this recipe is going to be a big hit in our house!
I agree, Lana. I love pasta and none more than with a creamy vodka sauce. Enjoy!
You can never go wrong with pasta, a quality sauce, and cheese. Yum!