Creamy Corn Pasta

Stages of cooking

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1. Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
2. 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
3. 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
4. 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
5. Add cooled corn mixture to a blender and blend until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add additional pasta water as needed to blend. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
6. 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
7. Add corn puree and cook, uncovered, over medium heat until heated through, about 2 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
8. 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. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
9. Stir in basil and lemon juice. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
   
10. Serve with more basil and Parmesan cheese.  Dotdash Meredith Food Studios