Passata means canned tomatoes that have been sieved into a thick creamy purée. It is a new development and its main advantage is that it cooks much more quickly than whole canned tomatoes, so when you are in a rush to make a really speedy pasta sauce, this has to be the best choice. I am not a great fan of canned tomatoes that contain herbs, garlic, or other flavorings, as to my taste buds the flavoring always seems to taste sour and somehow not quite true. In any case, I would always rather add the flavorings I want as I create my dish.
