The Pasta That You Won't Regret

Creamy, spicy, and secretly protein-packed

SPICY VODKA RIGATONI - serves 4

They say that you can’t outdo the original, but this recipe serves a strong case.

This recipe started out the way most good things do. It was a night that I was craving comfort food without feeling like I was compromising on my goals or needing to change into sweatpants immediately after to accommodate the bloat.

I always have low-fat cottage cheese, a jar of Raos, and vodka in the fridge, and my wheels got to turning… high(er) protein spicy vodka rigatoni.

Starting at “I’m not sure how this is going to turn out” to “this is actually magic,” this recipe came to life.

Creamy without the heavy cream.

Buttery flavor without the butter.

Spicy without the sweat.

And protein-packed thanks to my all-time favorite trio: Fairlife milk, low-fat cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt. Altogether, they keep that rich, silky sauce that is somehow lighter than the original.

Calabrian chilis bring the perfect kick, while the vodka deepens the flavor.

Whether you’re making it for a date night, girls’ night in, or a cozy dinner that you deserve that won’t completely derail your goals SAVE THIS RECIPE.

The ingredients I swear by (because good ingredients matter):

• Organic Rigatoni Pasta (Publix, Walmart, Amazon, Target)

• Fairlife Milk, Fat Free (Publix, Walmart, Target, most specialty grocers… I have my opinions on Fairlife milk, but that’s a story for a different day. High protein is the goal here)

• Chopped Calabrian Peppers (Whole Foods, Walmart, Publix, World Market)

• Organic Low-Fat Cottage Cheese (Publix, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, you get it…)

• Belvedere Organic Vodka (this is typically what I have in the freezer for Dirty Martinis  )

• Plain Greek Yogurt (most grocers carry this; so good and creamy!)

Now… I’m no professional and measure with my heart, but I can tell you this is dang close. If you try it or make your own version, I want to hear how it turns out! Comment or tag me. Seeing kitchen experiments come to life is one of my guilty pleasures :).

Ingredients

• 1 box rigatoni pasta (get the authentic and organic, yes it matters)

• 1 shallot, diced

• 2 garlic cloves, diced (or if you’re like me dice about 6 of those hoes)

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 1/2 cup Fairlife low fat milk

• 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese

• 1/4 cup low fat Greek yogurt

• 1 jar Raos marinara sauce

• 1 small can tomato paste

• A splash of vodka

• Calabrian chilis (to your spice liking)

• Salt & pepper

• 1 lbs. ground beef, turkey, or Italian sausage (optional)

Instructions

• Boil water with a hefty amount of salt. Add pasta once boiling

• In a blender add Fairlife milk, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to make the “cream” and set aside

• In a separate pan, add olive oil and shallot. Once shallot is fragrant, add garlic. After 2 minutes add tomato paste

• Once tomato paste has a smoother consistency, deglaze pan with vodka and let simmer for 2 minutes

• Add Raos marinara sauce to the pan and let simmer, then add the “cream”

• Add Calabrian chilis (less is more, taste test little by little until it’s to your spice level) & salt and pepper

• (optional) Cook lean ground beef or Italian sausage in another pan to add more protein

More aesthetic pictures to come… wine may or may not have also been had with this dish.

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