Penne alla Vodka with Spinach
Penne alla Vodka with Spinach is a creamy Italian-American pasta dish featuring penne pasta tossed in a rich, tangy tomato-vodka sauce, often enriched with heavy cream and fresh spinach. The vodka helps meld the flavors of the tomato and cream, while the spinach adds a fresh, earthy note and vibrant color.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is typically high in carbohydrates from the pasta and fat from the cream and cheese, providing a good source of protein and calcium. A standard serving contains approximately 600-700 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 650 kcal |
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbs | 72 g |
| Fat | 32 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Calcium | 220 mg |
| Iron | 3.5 mg |
| Vitamin A | 4500 IU |
| Vitamin K | 120 mcg |
| Potassium | 480 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Phosphorus | 210 mg |
| Magnesium | 45 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The addition of vodka is a clever culinary trick; it acts as an emulsifier, helping the fat-based cream and water-based tomato sauce blend smoothly while extracting flavor compounds that are otherwise alcohol-soluble. Nutritionally, the spinach boosts the dish's vitamin K, vitamin A, and iron content.
