Protein-Packed Pasta With Homemade Vodka Sauce

Have you been looking for a deliciously satisfying pasta dish that won't derail your diet goals? At DietMD.com, we've crafted a mouthwatering recipe featuring Kaizen's lower-carb protein pasta. We've paired the pasta with a homemade vodka sauce infused with flavorful ground pork.

This guilt-free indulgence is high in protein and low in carbs. And we promise, this recipe takes little skill and will be ready in around 30 minutes!

Ingredients

For the Protein Pasta:

• 1 pack of Kaizen lower-carb protein pasta

• salt to taste

For the Homemade Vodka Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 onion or shallot, finely chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• ⅔ cup tomato paste

• 1/4 cup vodka (you can skip this and it's just as good)

• 3/4 cup heavy cream

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter 

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

• freshly grated parmesan (optional)

• fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish

For the Ground Pork:

• 1 pound ground pork

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Instructions

Cook the Protein Pasta:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

• Add the Kaizen lower-carb protein pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente (around 8 minutes).

• Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside.

Prepare the Homemade Vodka Sauce:

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.

• Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Then add your minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

• Stir in the tomato paste and vodka (optional), and bring the sauce to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

• Stir in the heavy cream, butter, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional). Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

• Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside.

Cook the Ground Pork:

• In a separate skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.

• Add the ground pork, breaking it apart with a spoon, and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

• Cook the pork until browned and cooked through (about 8-10 minutes).

• Once cooked, remove the pork from the skillet and drain any excess fat.

Assemble the Dish:

• Add the cooked ground pork to the homemade vodka sauce and stir to combine.

• Divide the protein pasta among plates and top with the pork and vodka sauce.

• Garnish with chopped fresh basil leaves for an extra burst of flavor.

Macros per serving (Makes 4)

Protein: 48 g

Total Carbs: 34 g

Calories: 660 kcal

Enjoy these delicious flavors knowing you're fueling your body with wholesome ingredients! Serve this protein-packed pasta with a side salad or your favorite vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal.

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