Penne alla Vodka with Peas
Penne alla Vodka with Peas is a popular Italian-American pasta dish featuring penne pasta tossed in a creamy, slightly spicy tomato-based sauce, often enriched with vodka and mixed with sweet green peas. The sauce typically includes tomatoes, heavy cream, garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes, with the vodka believed to enhance the flavors of the tomatoes and cream. It's a comforting, indulgent dish that became a staple in Italian-American cuisine, particularly in New York City during the 1980s.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is generally high in carbohydrates from the pasta and fat from the cream and cheese, with moderate protein from the peas and any added meat like pancetta or prosciutto. A typical serving provides a good amount of vitamin C from the tomatoes, vitamin K from the peas, and calcium from the dairy, with a rough calorie range of 600-800 per serving depending on portion size and richness of the sauce.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 550 kcal |
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbs | 62 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Potassium | 420 mg |
| Vitamin A | 150 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Calcium | 180 mg |
| Iron | 3.5 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.8 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 280 mg |
| Magnesium | 55 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, Penne alla Vodka is a fascinating example of Italian-American innovation, as it's not traditionally found in Italy but was popularized in the U.S. and has since gained global recognition. Nutritionally, the addition of peas boosts fiber and plant-based protein, while the vodka, though mostly cooked off, is thought to help release fat-soluble flavors from the tomatoes and spices, making the sauce more aromatic and vibrant.
