Spelt Penne Alla Vodka

Name: Spelt Penne Alla Vodka
Ingredients: 2 large garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon olive oil; one 28-ounce can puréed tomatoes; 1/3 cup vodka; 1/2 cup heavy cream, room temperature; 1/2 cup grated parmesan; salt and pepper, to taste; one 16-ounce box spelt penne pasta; 4 basil leaves, chiffonade, for garnish

Maryse Chevriere|March 23, 2012 10:08 am EST

4.3 (3 ratings)

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Even if you're like me and can barely suppress an eye roll at the mention of words like "healthy grains," I guarantee that you'll like spelt — and specifically spelt pasta. It legitimately tastes like the real thing — none of that dense, chewy texture you get with other alternative grains. And while I'm not 100 percent sure I'm justified in feeling a lot less guilty about eating pasta when it's made with spelt, I definitely do, which is a real bonus. See all quinoa recipes. Click here to see Healthy Swap-Outs, One Grain at a Time.

Servings

4

Ingredients

2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
one 28-ounce can puréed tomatoes
1/3 cup vodka
1/2 cup heavy cream, room temperature
1/2 cup grated parmesan
salt and pepper, to taste
one 16-ounce box spelt penne pasta
4 basil leaves, chiffonade, for garnish

Directions

In a medium-sized, deep pan (or pot), sauté the minced garlic in the olive oil over low heat for a couple of minutes, until soft. Next, increase the heat to medium and add in the puréed tomatoes and vodka. Simmer for about 20 minutes to reduce by about 1/3, stirring occasionally.
Turn the heat to medium-low, and mix in the cream and Parmesan until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Meanwhile, in a separate pot, bring the water for the pasta to a boil and cook the penne (about 7 minutes). When the pasta is al dente, drain the water and add the pasta to the sauce, and continue to cook on low for about 2 minutes. Garnish with grated Parmesan and basil.