Summery Creamy Corn Pasta & A Discount Code For A Great Farm Box Delivery

Fresh corn is used two ways in this delicious pasta dish.
Fresh corn is used two ways in this delicious pasta dish.

A tangle of pasta. Dolloped with fresh corn kernels, basil leaves, and soft cheese. All lavished with a naturally sweet corn sauce that’s creamy yet not heavy in the least.

If that dish doesn’t say summer, what does?

And if that doesn’t get your mouth watering, what will?

When the folks behind the Bay Area’s Farm Box company delivered one of their stellar produce boxes over the weekend, it’s no surprise that’s the dish I was inspired to make first.

What this coming weekend's Farm Box contains.
What this coming weekend’s Farm Box contains.

Farm Box is a weekly curated farmers market box that customers can get delivered to their door or pick up at the Ferry Plaza farmers market on Saturdays or the Menlo Park farmers market on Sundays. The company was co-founded by Andreas Winsberg, son of David Winsberg, who owns Happy Quail Farms in East Palo Alto, a premier grower of peppers, including the beloved pimentos de Padron.

Each week, Andreas and his team put together a different Farm Box, made up of peak-produce from small local farmers who sell regularly at the Ferry Building and Menlo Park farmers markets.

In fact, this particular box, which I received last Saturday gratis for a test run, was a sneak preview of the one that will be available for pickup or delivery this coming weekend.

Farm Box works with these farms and producers.
Farm Box works with these local farms and producers.

Besides three ears of corn from G&S Farms and basil from Everything Under the Sun, which was put to good use in this pasta dish, the box also included: first-of-the-season Morettini pears from K&J Orchards, carrots from McGinnis Ranch, cauliflower from Greenthumb Organics, yellow peaches from Kashiwase Farms, baby potatoes from Little Organic Farm, cranberry beans from Iacopi Farms, mint from Oya Organics, a head of romaine from Star Route Farms, and a bag of coveted dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes from Dirty Girl Farms that are as sweet as candy.

Basil and white corn destined for the pasta dish.
Basil and white corn destined for the pasta dish.

This large box, more than enough to feed a family, is $55, while a smaller one to feed one to two people is $35. For the delivery option, there is a $20 fee.

There are even optional items to add for an additional cost, including artisan jams, breads, bacon, granola, and an indulgent little 3-inch cheesecake by Crumble & Whisk Patisserie ($15).

Add on a little cheesecake from Crumble & Whisk Patisserie (this one's got perky lemon curd over the top). if you like.
Add on a little cheesecake from Crumble & Whisk Patisserie (this one’s got perky lemon curd over the top). if you like.

Now’s the perfect time to try Farm Box for yourself. Get $10 off your first order with the coupon code: FOODGAL10.

Order this coming weekend’s produce box and enjoy making this easy “Creamy Corn Bucatini” as I did from the cookbook, “Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities” (2019) by America’s Test Kitchen, of which I received a review copy.

There’s just something extra homey and comforting about eating food from a bowl, as opposed to a plate. It just makes you want to dig in more. This cookbook includes 75 bowl-friendly recipes, everything from “Seared Tuna Poke Bowl” and “Steakhouse Salad Bowl” to “Thai-Style Hot and Sour Soup” and “Egyptian Barley Bowl.”

This pasta dish calls for bucatini, but you can substitute spaghetti easily. The sauce is simply corn kernels simmered briefly in milk. The mixture is then pureed until smooth in a blender, and passed through a sieve. (You keep the liquid, but discard the solids. However, my husband with his frugal Asian ways, decided to form the spent corn mash into little pancakes to pan-fry in a little butter. The patties had a slight fibrous texture, but actually tasted great with intense corn flavor. So if you cringe at throwing anything away, try this.)

The boiled noodles finish cooking in the corn sauce, where every strand gets coated beautifully. Additional whole corn kernels get strewn over the pasta, adding pops of bright crispness throughout. Finally, the pasta is garnished with basil and ricotta. I actually used chevre because that’s what I had handy, and it proved a wonderful substitute, adding a subtle tang that married with the naturally sweet taste of the corn and whole milk.

This is a dish that will definitely bowl you over.

Summer pasta at its best.
Summer pasta at its best.

Creamy Corn Bucatini (Or Spaghetti) Bowl

(Serves 2)

2 1/4 cups thawed frozen corn kernels or fresh corn kernels cut from about 3 ears, divided use

2/3 cup whole milk

6 ounces bucatini or spaghetti

1/4 teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3 ounces (1/3 cup) whole-milk ricotta cheese or soft goat cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Bring 2 cups corn and milk to simmer in 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Carefully transfer corn and milk to blender and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Process until smooth, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides of blender jar as needed. Strain corn mixture through fine-mesh strainer into now-empty skillet, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible.

Meanwhile, bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until pasta is flexible but still firm, about 5 minutes. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain pasta.

Stir pasta, 1/2 cup cooking reserved cooking water, salt, and pepper flakes into corn mixture in skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pasta is tender and well coated, 3 to 5 minutes. Adjust consistency with remaining reserved cooking water as needed and season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide among individual serving bowls, then dollop with ricotta or goat cheese, and sprinkle with basil and remaining 1/4 cup corn, and serve. (Note: If using thawed frozen corn, cook the reserved 1/4 cup kernels in the microwave until steaming and tender before garnishing the cooked pasta.)

Adapted from “Bowls” by America’s Test Kitchen

Dishes Made From A Previous Farm Box Delivery: Stir-Fry Udon Noodles with Eggplant, Portobello Mushrooms, Thai Basil, and Celery Leaves

Plus: Cherry Upside-Down Cakelets

More Corn Recipes to Enjoy: Grilled Lime Chicken with Creamed Corn

And: Turkey-Andouille-Pinto Bean Tamale Potpie with Corn Bread

And: Philadelphia Blueberry-Corn Tart by Dorie Greenspan

And: Miao Pork with Corn and Chiles

And: Corn, Tomato and Scallion Salad

And: Tabouleh with Quinoa, Corn, Scallion and Goat Cheese

And: Buttermilk Spoon Bread with Shiitakes, Corn and Scallions

And: Stir-Fried Corn with Basil, Leeks and Cumin

And: Corn with Hoisin-Orange Butter

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5 comments

  • It is funny but I’m probably one of the few people that doesn’t like the “bowl” trend…there is one exception to that and it is pasta. I wouldn’t have thought of this combination but it really does sound prefect for summer.

  • Karen: That is funny about being anti-bowl except for when it comes to pasta. But I can understand that. I mean, who would have ever thought that something as mundane as eating from a bowl would become trendy, right? 😉

  • Love corn cooked in milk! SO flavorful. Never ever thought to use that combo in a pasta dish, though. This is a fun recipe — thanks.

  • Wonderful about the boxes! I’ve enjoyed Riverdog Farm Box for years. Will make the Bucatini recipe tonight! I have Riverdog basil and corn, and will use my homemade ricotta. Thanks for planning my dinner!

  • Rosemary: You’re very welcome! It’s the perfect summer pasta dish. Hope you enjoy it! 😉

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