Description
This creamy tomato pasta sauce blends the rich flavor of tomato passata with luscious cream cheese and parmesan, creating a smooth, comforting sauce that’s ready in just 10 minutes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this sauce pairs beautifully with any long or short pasta for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 8oz (225 grams) Pasta (long or short pasta will work)
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ brown or white onion, finely diced
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- ¾ cup (200 ml) tomato passata (aka tomato puree)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tbsp of chopped fresh basil)
- ½ cup (120 grams) cream cheese (Philadelphia recommended)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt, or to taste
- â…› teaspoon black pepper, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta type. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter or heat olive oil. Add minced garlic, finely diced onion, and chili flakes if using. Sauté for approximately 2 minutes until fragrant and the onions turn translucent.
- Simmer Tomato Base: Pour in the tomato passata and add the dried or fresh basil. Stir well and let the mixture simmer gently for about 5 minutes to develop flavors.
- Add Cheeses and Pasta Water: Stir in cream cheese and freshly grated parmesan into the tomato mixture, allowing them to melt smoothly. Gradually add reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the cooked and drained pasta into the skillet with the sauce. Stir thoroughly to coat all pasta evenly. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired.
Notes
- Use the pasta water reserved to adjust the sauce consistency; it helps the sauce cling to the pasta thanks to the starch content.
- Fresh basil can be substituted for dried basil for a more aromatic flavor, but adjust quantities appropriately.
- The chili flakes add a subtle heat but can be omitted for a milder sauce.
- Use cream cheese at room temperature for easier melting and a smoother sauce.
- Leftover sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
