Low FODMAP Italian Vodka Sauce
I don’t think I have to describe this much. Italian Vodka Sauce. Without the dairy. Yummmmmmmmmm.
For those of you following a low FODMAP diet, you may have heard that cashews are not low FODMAP. This is true - if they haven’t been soaked. If they’ve been soaked overnight (per instructions here), they are considered “activated cashews” and are low FODMAP at servings about 15g.
So - there you have it! You can whip this up in less than 30 min (aside from the overnight soaking) and use it over any pasta, with any protein, to make a tasty and delicious Mediterranean meal :)
Active Time: 25 mins Inactive Time: 8-16 hours (overnight) Yields: 8 servings (1/4 cup each, or 59g each)
Per Serving: 131 cal 4 g protein 8 g fat 9 g carbs
Ingredients:
1 cup (143 g) raw unsalted cashews
Water
1 tbsp garlic-infused olive oil
1/2 tsp + 1.25 tsp red pepper flakes
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/3 cup vodka (ideally not corn based)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried basil
1.25 tsp ground black pepper
Directions:
1. The night before, place the cashews in a bowl and leave to soak overnight in water. Pour enough water to cover the cashews; some will float to the top, and that’s ok. I set them up before I go to bed, and I let them soak overnight and actually through the work day, until I’m ready to cook after work.
2. Place a skillet on medium-high heat. Add the garlic-infused olive oil and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes and let it heat up until sizzling.
3. Add the diced tomatoes and the tomato paste. Let it come to a boil, then add teh vodka.
4. Let the vodka cook off its sting, which takes about 7-10 minutes. I know it’s ready by tasting it. If it’s too strong, let it sit a little longer, until it tastes “ooooh good.”
5. While the tomatoes and vodka are boiling, drain the cashews and then place in a food processor.
6. When the vodka has cooked off sufficiently, take off heat and allow to cool for 5 min. Then add to the food processor, in addition to the remaining red pepper flakes, salt, basil, and black pepper. Blend for 5-10 min, or until relatively smooth! The creaminess will depend on how strong your blender is and how long the cashews have soaked.
7. Bon apetite!
