From Tortellini to Soup to Butter Beans, Vodka Enhances the Flavor and Richness of These Vegan Recipes

When most of us think of vodka, we think of shots or cocktails.  It’s consistently voted as the top spirit in the US, and the global market is worth nearly $40 billion. The alcoholic spirit is a key ingredient in Moscow Mules, Cosmopolitans, Vodka Martinis, and White Russians, for example. But vodka is not just for drinking. The Eastern European drink can also be used in cooking, too, in a similar way to wine. Find out more in the recipes below (and no, they’re not just for pasta alla vodka, although that dish is arguably underrated).

Is vodka good for cooking?

It may seem a little unconventional at first, but when used in cooking, vodka can help enhance the flavor of many dishes. It’s particularly popular in tomato-based sauces because it helps to mellow out the flavor of acidic ingredients, creating a smoother texture and flavor. At the same time, it can help to intensify the flavors of herbs and spices. Basically, vodka works as a recipe enhancer. It balances and smooths out the sharper flavors while enhancing the milder ones. 

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And don’t worry, while vodka has an over-powering taste when you shoot it straight, it won’t taste like that in your dinner. This is because, like with wine, most of the alcohol content actually evaporates during cooking. In fact, when you simmer a vodka-based sauce for half an hour, up to 95 percent of the alcohol will evaporate. However, if you’re one of those people who enjoy the alcoholic kick of vodka, you can add it right at the end to preserve more of the alcohol content.

What to cook with vodka: 6 vegan recipe ideas

The most famous dish with vodka is, of course, pasta alla vodka. You’ll find a few different takes on this below, but we’ve also included pasta-free options, too.

Brianna Claxton

1 Vegan Sausage and Ricotta Stuffed Shells With Vodka Sauce

In this tasty recipe from the Vegan Pasta Night cookbook, vodka helps combine the acidity of the tomatoes with the richness of the dairy-free ricotta and mozzarella. Without it, the sauce might separate or feel just a little bit too tangy. But vodka ensures the dish is smooth, creamy, balanced, and delectable.
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Leslie Durso

2 Easy Creamy Vegan Tomato Vodka Pasta

This super simple take on the classic pasta alla vodka is tasty and quick to make. Again, it helps to enhance the aroma and flavor of the Roma tomatoes, making them taste extra sweet, rich, and tangy.
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Kula’s Kitchen

3 One Pot Vegan Gnocchi Alla Vodka

If you prefer the texture of gnocchi—which is a mix of pasta and potato—then you’ll no doubt enjoy this ultra-creamy, ultra-flavorful, one-pot gnocchi alla vodka from Kula’s Kitchen. It’s a little spicy, tangy, and perfect with a generous sprinkling of dairy-free parmesan on the top. Recipe developer Emma Kula describes it as “cozy and comforting” and ideal for “cold weather nights.”
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Bold Bean Co

4 Chickpea Alla Vodka With Black Pepper Almonds

Forget the pasta. In this dish from the Bold Bean Co, chickpeas are the star of the show. “Plump, juicy Queen Chickpeas soak up that indulgent sauce,” notes the brand. “Because of this richness, we recommend serving with some charred broccoli and a good squeeze of lemon for some freshness.”
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Plantifully Based

5 Vodka Tortellini Soup

This tortellini soup features leafy greens, onions, and a vodka tomato sauce, making it the perfect winter warmer for chilly evenings. “Don’t use the most expensive top-shelf vodka but use one you like to drink. I like Tito’s for this,” recipe creator Francesca Bonadonna advises. 
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Holistic Foodie

6 Butter Beans Alla Vodka

Butter beans are packed with essential nutrients, including plant protein, and they’re also creamy, buttery, and great at soaking up flavor, which makes them the perfect accompaniment to a tomato vodka sauce. “If you’re craving something rich, satisfying, and creamy, this is one way to fulfill that craving,” says Jaclyn Irwin, founder of Holistic Foodie. “These butter beans alla vodka are pure comfort in a bowl.”
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