
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving a little pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce.

Place the poblano peppers in a baking dish. Add the onion and garlic, then roast for 15-20 minutes, turning the peppers halfway through, until the skins are blistered and the vegetables are softened.



Transfer the hot poblano peppers to a zip-top bag or covered bowl. Seal and let them steam for 5 minutes; this makes the skins easier to remove.

Remove the peppers from the bag and gently peel off the loosened skins with your fingers or a paper towel. A few small charred bits are fine and add flavor.


Cut a slit down each pepper, then remove the stems and seeds. For a milder sauce, scrape out as much of the inner membrane as possible.


Add the peeled poblanos, roasted onion, roasted garlic, cream cheese, heavy cream, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.


Pour the poblano sauce into a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated, warming the sauce gently. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.


Serve warm, topped with shredded cheese if desired.
