Creamy Corn Pasta

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 10 minutes
• total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

12 ounces dry shell or orcchiette pasta

4 tablespoons salted butter, divided

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups fresh, frozen, or canned corn kernels,divided

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more forgarnish

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

1/3 cup torn fresh basil or mint, plus morefor garnish

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Gather all ingredients.

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in shell pasta and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1 minute less than package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain and reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking water.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, salt, and black pepper. Cook until fragrant, stirring regularly, about 1 minute.

Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and 1 3/4 cup corn. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until corn is heated through and very tender, 2 minutes for canned corn, 3 minutes for frozen corn, and 6 minutes for fresh corn. Cool for 15 minutes.

Add cooled corn mixture to a blender and blend until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add additional pasta water as needed to blend.

Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in the extra-large skillet. Add the remaining 1/4 cup corn and cook over medium heat until tender and corn is heated through, about 1 minute.

Add corn puree and cook, uncovered, over medium heat until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Add cooked pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir in Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper, if using. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, adding more pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.

Stir in basil and lemon juice.

Serve with more basil and Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

• Calories: 421 kcal
• Total Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 41 mg
• Sodium: 626 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 59 g
• Dietary Fiber: 3 g
• Total Sugars: 16 g
• Protein: 11 g