Creamy tomato pasta bake

Method
Prep:10min  ›  Cook:30min  ›  Ready in:40min 

1. Fill sauce pan with water and put on to boil. Drizzle oil into large frying pan and warm. Add the onion and garlic and gently fry until soft.
2. If using, add the pesto now and fry for 30 seconds. Add the whole amount of passata, salt and pepper and stir all together. Leave to gently simmer for 2 minutes stirring occasionally.
3. Now salt your boiling water and add the pasta.
4. Stir in the frozen peas to the tomato mixture then add the cream cheese and stir in fully. Add the basil and stir in. Check the seasoning, add more salt and pepper if desired.
5. Once pasta is cooked, drain it. Throw everything together and transfer into baking tray. Sprinkle cheese all over the top.
6. Bake in over for 10 mintues at 180 C / Gas 4. Serve piled up in a bowl maybe with some crusty garlic bread.

Other ideas

Many alternatives can be made adding pepperoni or chorizo after frying the garlic and onion. Finely chopped carrot in with the onion at the start. Or add oregano as well as basil. Or maybe chilli too!!