Description
This creamy tomato pasta sauce combines the rich tang of tomato passata with smooth cream cheese and a touch of parmesan for a luscious, comforting pasta dish. Easy to prepare with simple ingredients, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet light.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8oz (225 grams) pasta (long or short)
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 (tomato puree)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil or 1 tablespoon 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
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. About 1-2 minutes before draining, scoop out approximately 1 cup of pasta cooking water and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic, diced onion, and chili flakes if using, cooking gently for about 2 minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Simmer Tomato Base: Pour in the tomato passata and stir in dried or fresh basil. Lower heat and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes to develop flavor.
- Incorporate Cream and Cheese: Stir in cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and start with ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Mix until the sauce is well emulsified and creamy. Adjust seasoning by adding salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Toss quickly to coat the pasta evenly, adding more reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. This should take about 10 seconds.
- Serve: Turn off the heat and plate the pasta immediately. Optionally, sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve hot. Enjoy your creamy tomato pasta!
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the chili flakes or add a dash of red pepper powder.
- You can substitute cream cheese with mascarpone or ricotta for a slightly different texture and flavor.
- Fresh basil can be used instead of dried for a brighter, herbaceous note.
- Reserve pasta water carefully as its starchiness helps emulsify and thicken the sauce.
- This sauce pairs well with any pasta shape, from spaghetti to penne.
- To make vegan, replace butter with olive oil, use vegan cream cheese and parmesan alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main course
- Method: Stovetop sauté and simmer
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 6 grams
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 15 grams
- Saturated Fat: 8 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 45 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 12 grams
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: tomato pasta sauce, creamy pasta sauce, cream cheese pasta, easy tomato sauce, quick pasta recipe
