Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka]

A twist on traditional vodka pasta----this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka] is perfect for the entire family, but definitely incredible for date nights! Packed with bold, savory flavors, this pasta recipe is the perfect vegetarian option that is made with filling ravioli, sundried tomatoes, chunks of kales, and topped with a well-seasoned tomato-based sauce, and generous amounts of freshly-grated parmesan cheese. Vegan + Gluten-free option.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links via Amazon for products that I wholeheartedly love.

I love pasta dishes and it's one of those things that is unanimously enjoyed in my house, especially by my husband! Honestly, pasta dishes are the perfect lazy meals for during week or on weekends and they are so versatile, but what about special moments like date nights? This Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka] is truly something delicious---I PROMISE. This vegetarian option pasta is nothing short of flavor and it’s even perfect once reheated if you don't get a chance to finish it all.

This creamy pasta fits both those bills, and then some. It’s packed with deeply rich and savory flavors from sundried tomatoes and a fragrant herb + seasoning blend. If you aren't restricted to only meatless options, then you can spruce things up by adding chicken breasts, salmon, shrimp, lobster, etc. and I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Overall, this pasta is definitely comfort food in a bowl (or a plate), includes simple steps, and can totally be personalized based on preference----i.e. sub ingredients with vegan and/or gluten-free ones, adding greens for a brightness, etc.

How to Make Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli

Start making this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli recipe by roasting your tomatoes if you decide not to use sundried tomatoes. This recipe for herb-roasted tomatoes produces the best-tasting, most concentrated roasted tomatoes. They have a thick, jammy texture that creates a sauce all on their own in addition to the delicious creamy sauce.

Next, cook the ravioli according to package instructions. And while the ravioli cooks, you can make the herb breadcrumbs and simple alcohol-free vodka sauce over the stovetop right before assembly. Finally, you serve your creamy pasta in a dish and top with a spoonful or two of breadcrumbs and wallah!

REASONS WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS VODKA RAVIOLI!

• It’s absolutely delicious----creamy + velvety!
• Super easy to make and quick (plus, no crazy clean-up! Can we say–Everything in a baking dish?)
• Loaded with Cheesy flavors, velvety + spoonfuls of savory flavors.
• Full of flavor + well seasoned! (The best reason!)
• Perfect for any time of day—Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast (if that’s your thing), whatever, especially date nights!

Ingredients For This Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli 

• Ravioli. I love using organic ravioli with a ricotta and cheese filling, however, you can use your favorite filled ravioli.
• Sundried tomatoes. Choose an organic bottle of sundried tomatoes or make your own roasted tomatoes.
• Kale. Use fresh for best results, but frozen also works! Ensure that it's chopped.
• Herbs + Seasonings. A great addition of flavor. Adds such savoriness nice + a beautiful kick of spice. You can purchase my Marry Me Blend for the best ease and authentic feel or make your own homemade blend.
• Parmesan cheese. You could also use pecorino romano. For a vegan option, So Delicious Dairy-Free or Violife cheese shreds tastes great.
• Lemon juice. You can use store-bought or freshly-squeeze juice from an actual lemon.
• Heavy cream. I recommend organic–always! Of course, for a vegan option, just use full-fat coconut cream/milk.
• Tomato paste. This adds additional flavor + color to the dish.
• Veggie Stock. Helps to add extra flavor and creaminess.
• Olive Oil. Used for cooking both pasta and sauce.
• Garlic. I recommend fresh, but you could use ½ teaspoon granulated garlic.
• White wine. I love using cooking wine, but you can choose a dry wine that you like the taste of too. You can omit and sub with more stock.

How to Make Homemade Breadcrumbs

To make your own breadcrumbs, simply grind 1-2 cups of cubed bread into a food processor until finely chopped. Place crumbs onto a parchment lined baking sheet and spread out evenly.

Bake for 5-6 minutes in the oven set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring occasionally. Once brown + crisp, remove from oven and let cool. Continue recipe steps and store remaining breadcrumbs in a tightly sealed container.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PASTA!

Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka]. Everything from my fave baking sheet, parchment paper, food processor, high-powered blender, skillets, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

What Kind of Ravioli Fillings Work for this Creamy Vodka Pasta

For this specific recipe, I chose to use cheese ravioli, however, there are so many options (whether homemade or store-bought) that can help to elevate this entire dish based on the use of any of the following raviolis:

• Chicken
• Sausage
• Spinach and Ricotta
• Lobster or Seafood stuffed
• Mushroom
• Four cheese

What Does Vodka Sauce Have In It?

This oh-so-yummy artisan Italian-inspired homemade sauce has smooth tomato, heavy cream, vodka, and Italian herbs that are used to create the sauce (which gives the sauce its distinct orange color).

What Does Vodka Sauce Taste Like? 

Vodka sauce is rich, creamy, and has a mouthwatering flavor. The tomato is a tad acidic despite the cream. The vodka adds the perfect balance of sourness to the dish. The sauce cooks over a low flame, blending and combining with the vodka. The tomatoes caramelize and become jammy in the meantime (if you decide to roast your tomatoes), ready to add to your creamy sauce!

Can You Get Drunk off Vodka Sauce?

Don't worry. You won't get a buzz from eating this creamy pasta if you decide to add alcohol. Okay, so yes, technically, the sauce contains vodka, but it is impossible to become intoxicated from it. The alcohol is released into the liquid during cooking. As a result, there is barely any alcohol left in the dish, but you might still be able to taste the vodka a little!

What White Wine is Best in this Creamy Ravioli Pasta Dish?

I tend to use a lot of white cooking wine, which is easiest for me instead of adding alcohol like vodka. However, I do occasionally add quality white wine to my dishes and I recommend using a dry white wine if you choose not to use vodka either.

A dry white wine will add the right amount of acidity rather than sweetness, which will better compliment your dish like this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka]. In general, any of the following dry white wines work great in this dish:

Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines.

What Are Delicious Foods to Pair This Pasta With?

When it comes to most pasta dishes, I often enjoy them with a side of bread of some sort. Most times, I make my own homemade Garlic Bread, however, you can choose to spruce things up with many other options such as:

A delicious Salad

Sautéed Greens

Grilled Veggies

Toasted Bread

Adding Protein to this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli

If you'd like to add protein to this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli dish, it's easy to do, regardless of your diet!

Plant-based protein options:

• Crispy seared or baked tofu cubes
• Crumbled stir-fried seitan
• Crumble vegan bacon on top
• Sautéed cauliflower florets or broccoli
• Sautéed asparagus, Brussels sprouts, etc.

Non-vegan protein options:

• Chicken (breast sliced)
• Salmon
• Shrimp
• Lobster
• Beef
• Oxtails
• Fish (fried, jerked, grilled, etc.)
• etc.

Can I Make Vegan or Gluten-Free Creamy Ravioli Pasta?

Yes! To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta. However, to make this dish vegan, simply substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk, ensure that the ravioli is vegan-friendly, and the parmesan with vegan parmesan.

Storing Leftover Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli

Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove to serve.

More Favorite Weeknight or Date Night Recipes

• Easy Weeknight Creamy Tuscan Ravioli
• Creamy Salmon Alfredo Pasta
• Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
• Creamy Tuscan Lobster Pasta
• Weeknight Broccoli Pesto Gnocchi + Chickpeas
• Creamy Jamaican Rasta Pasta
• Best Homemade Vodka Pizza 
• Lemon Herb Roasted Chickpeas + Bucatini 
• Lemon Brown Butter Pasta
• Weeknight Tomato Kale Ravioli Bake

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you make this Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka], be sure to Tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea!

Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli [without the Vodka]

March 21, 2023 •

By Shanika

5 from 6 votes

This alcohol-free Hubby’s Date Night Vodka Ravioli is a must for any day of the week or occasion, but specifically the best for date nights!

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Serves: 2 servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) package organic cheese ravioli 
• 1 cup organic chopped kale

SAUCE:

• 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsps Marry Me Blend (You can purchase my Marry Me Blend for authentic flavor or make this homemade as well---See Notes)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 5-6 organic sundried tomatoes (You can also sub with Herb Roasted Tomatoes for bold flavor)
• 4 Tbsps organic tomato paste
• 1 ½ cups organic heavy cream
• ½ cup organic vegetable stock
• 2 Tbsps white cooking wine
• ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
• ½ cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese (You can also use Mozzarella cheese)

HERB BREADCRUMBS:

• 1 cup breadcrumbs or Panko breadcrumbs
• 1-2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, homemade or store-bought

Instructions

TO MAKE THE HERB BREADCRUMBS:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, add the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and olive oil together, mixing until combined and "semi-wet" in texture. Add mixture unto prepared baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and let cool.

COOK THE PASTA:

• Cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: ravioli doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 4-5 minutes, depending on brand.

MAKE THE VODKA SAUCE:

• In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Once heated, add the garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute or so, until fragrant. Add in the salt and Marry Me Blend and stir until combined. Add the tomato paste.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly add in the heavy cream, veggie stock, lemon juice, sundried tomatoes, and white wine, stirring until combined. Let it slightly bubble for 1-2 minutes and then add in the grated parmesan, whisking until fully melted and sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the chopped kale, stirring until combined and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• When the ravioli is done, drain it and add it to the sauce, stirring until sauce fully coats + sticks to pasta. Serve immediately and top with herb breadcrumbs!
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
• PASTA: You can use long pastas like Pappardelle, Fettuccine, etc. however, I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that pasta is fully manageable and fully coated. Otherwise, other pastas such as Penne, Rigatoni, Paccheri, Orecchiette, etc. are perfect.
• GREENS: To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as spinach, broccolini, collards, or asparagus. 
• MEAT OPTION:I f you'd like to switch things up and aren't restrictive to non-meat, feel free to add chicken breasts, salmon, shrimp, or lobster to this pasta for extra decadence. 
• GLUTEN-FREE: To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta. 
• VEGAN OPTION: To make this dish vegan, simply substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk, ensure that the ravioli is vegan-friendly, and the parmesan with vegan parmesan. 
• HOMEMADE BLEND: 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 tsps dried parsley, 2 tsps dried basil, 2 tsps dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon garlic powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 910kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 86g | Saturated Fat: 47g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28g | Cholesterol: 224mg | Sodium: 2145mg | Potassium: 693mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3980IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 406mg | Iron: 3mg

DID YOU MAKE THIS recipe?

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