Description
This creamy tomato pasta sauce with cream cheese is a quick and delicious way to elevate your pasta dinner. Combining the rich flavors of tomato passata, garlic, onion, and creamy cheeses, this easy-to-make sauce is perfect for a comforting meal ready in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8oz (225 grams) pasta (long or short pasta will work)
- 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 (tomato puree)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tbsp 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. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water to use later in the sauce.
- Prepare sauce base: Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter or warm the olive oil. Add the minced garlic, diced onion, and chili flakes (if using), sautéing for about 2 minutes until the onion softens and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add tomato and basil: Pour in the tomato passata and sprinkle in the dried basil (or fresh basil if using). Let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes to deepen the flavors and reduce slightly.
- Incorporate cheeses and pasta water: Stir in the cream cheese and freshly grated parmesan cheese until melted and combined. Add about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce and make it silky. Season with fine salt and black pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Toss the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce, stirring well to ensure every strand or piece is coated evenly with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Serve immediately: Plate the pasta and garnish with additional parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper if desired. Serve hot for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water is key for loosening the sauce and helping it cling beautifully to the pasta.
- The chili flakes are optional but add a pleasant mild heat that complements the creamy tomato base.
- Using fresh basil will add a brighter note, but dried basil works well and infuses nicely during simmering.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preferences, especially if your parmesan cheese is salty.
- For a dairy-free example, substitute cream cheese and parmesan with vegan alternatives.
