Buzz
Though I don’t have any dietary restrictions that prevent me from enjoying heavy cream, I’m often left scrambling for dinner ideas when I’m low on time. Pasta with vodka sauce usually isn't my go-to choice—mainly because I tend to run out of cream. But on a lucky day, I managed to create a quick pantry pasta that mimicked the creamy, boozy sauce without needing the cream.
The idea is simple: Add canned cannellini beans to your tomato sauce and let it simmer. Cannellini beans have a wonderfully smooth texture, and even the aquafaba (the liquid from the beans) is thicker and creamier than that of most other beans. Over time, the beans break down, releasing their starches and naturally thickening the sauce while mellowing the tang of the tomatoes. This isn’t about fooling anyone into thinking it's real cream; the bean flavor is definitely present. Rather, I think of this as a delicious alternative vodka sauce recipe.
Essential tools for your next pasta night:
ExcelSteel Heavy Duty Colander
KitchenAid 2-Quart Stainless Steel Pot
How to prepare dairy-free vodka sauce
This recipe follows the usual vodka sauce steps—first, soften the aromatics, then add vodka and tomatoes—but instead of cream, we use cannellini beans, which simmer in the sauce at the end. (To make this dish vegan, simply leave out the pancetta.)
1. Sauté the aromatics
Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of a medium-sized pot and heat it over medium-low. Add garlic, shallots, and finely chopped pancetta, sprinkling in a pinch of salt. Cook the mixture until the pancetta crisps up and the aromatics turn soft and translucent.
2. Add the liquids
Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and pour in the vodka. Let it cook down until the vodka has reduced by about half, which should only take a minute or two.
3. Mash the creamy beans
Stir in the crushed tomatoes and canned cannellini beans, including their aquafaba, and a splash of water. The beans will naturally thicken the sauce, while the water keeps the starch from burning on the bottom. Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Stir every few minutes, smashing some of the beans with a spoon. If the beans are being difficult, a potato masher works wonders. If the sauce gets too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of water. Once the beans have mostly broken apart and the sauce reaches the desired thickness, taste it. Add salt or any extra seasoning if needed. Finally, toss in your pasta and serve.
Keep in mind that the beans will shed their skins, giving the sauce a slight texture. While this doesn’t bother me, you can strain the beans through a colander (with holes large enough to let the starchy pulp through) before adding them if you prefer a smoother sauce.
This recipe serves two and is my quick and easy take on the original. I don’t always have the ideal ingredients, but I’ve learned there’s almost always something in my kitchen that can work as a substitute. If you think, 'This could work just as well,' go for it! For example, instead of pancetta, I used slices of cold cut ham. Instead of crushed tomatoes, I had some leftover tomato sauce. And you know what? It turned out great.
Lazy Dairy-Free Vodka Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 minced shallot
2 minced garlic cloves
2 slices ham, chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup vodka
½ cup jarred tomato sauce
⅓ cup water
½ can cannellini beans with aquafaba
1. Pour olive oil into a medium-sized pot and heat over medium-low. Add the shallot, garlic, ham, and salt. Stir and sauté for a few minutes until the shallot softens and turns translucent.
2. Add the red pepper flakes and vodka. Stir to combine, and allow the liquid to reduce by half. This process will only take a minute or two.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce, beans with their aquafaba, and water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring it to a simmer. Stir the sauce every five minutes, mashing some of the beans as you go. If the sauce thickens too much, add a little splash of water. After about 15 minutes, the sauce should be thick, creamy, and ready to serve. Toss in your favorite pasta and enjoy immediately.
