Bacon Corn Pasta Recipes

CREAMY CORN PASTA WITH BASIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until 1 minute shy of al dente, according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large sauté pan over medium heat; add scallion whites and a pinch of salt and cook until soft, 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water and all but 1/4 cup corn; simmer until corn is heated through and almost tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, transfer to a blender, and purée mixture until smooth, adding a little extra water if needed to get a thick but pourable texture.
• Heat the same skillet over high heat. Add butter and let melt. Add reserved 1/4 cup corn and cook until tender, 1 to 2 minutes. (It's O.K. if the butter browns; that deepens the flavor.) Add the corn purée and cook for 30 seconds to heat and combine the flavors.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add pasta and half the reserved pasta cooking water, tossing to coat. Cook for 1 minute, then add a little more of the pasta cooking water if the mixture seems too thick. Stir in 1/4 cup of the scallion greens, the Parmesan, the herbs, the red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice to taste. Transfer to warm pasta bowls and garnish with more scallions, herbs, a drizzle of olive oil and black pepper.

CREAMY CORN PASTA WITH BACON

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Heavily salt the water and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and reserve 2 to 3 cups of the pasta cooking water for later.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crisped, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the shallots to the same skillet and cook over medium heat until they have softened and start to turn translucent, 3 to 4 minutes Add the corn and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 5 minutes more.
• Transfer the corn mixture to a blender along with 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and blend until smooth and the consistency of pasta sauce. Add the sauce back to the skillet along with 1/2 cup pecorino. Stir to combine and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the pasta to the sauce and mix to combine. If the sauce feels too thick, add 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water at a time, stirring in between, until the desired consistency is reached. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup for pecorino and reserved bacon. Divide among bowls, top with chives and more pecorino and enjoy!