Skinny Penne ala Vodka

Today is my day off so I'm a little bored. Going to try to re-vamp my penne ala vodka recipe with greek yogurt. The first incarnation used heavy cream and was delicious (obviously). Then I tried to replace the heavy cream with skim milk and cornstarch. It was OK, but I haven't made it since then. 

I saw on Pinterest an article about substituting greek yogurt for things into recipes. Then I realized greek yogurt may make a decent replacement. The tomato sauce should take some of the zing out of the yogurt, but the creamy consistency should make the sauce right. Here is what I tried...

Skinny Penne a la Vodka. With my dog Mickey's collar resting on the coffee table. (He had a bath earlier today.)

What You'll Need:

1 pound whole wheat penne pasta

1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes

½ cup greek yogurt

1 tsp olive oil

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (more for spicier!)

¾ tablespoon salt

2 tablespoons vodka

¼ chopped fresh parsley (or dried)

2 tablespoons minced garlic

How You'll Do It:

1.     Boil a pot of water, cook penne pasta al dente. Set aside.

2.     In large skillet, heat olive oil over moderate heat. Add garlic and red pepper to skillet and cook until garlic is browned.

3.     Add tomatoes and salt; bring to boil.

4.     Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

5.    Add vodka to pan and bring to a boil. Then set heat to low, and add greek yogurt. Add pasta and toss. Stir in fresh parsley and serve!

Here are some other great ways to save calories with Greek yogurt!

Final verdict: I miss the full-fat, excess-calories-I-don't-need-and-can't-bring-myself-to-eat-anymore version, but this one passes muster. I added more red pepper than in the recipe, I love things spicy!