Monday, December 20, 2010

Fettuccini with Corn Pesto - Blue Monday

If you're feeling harried and your Christmas spirit is flagging, this seemingly unplanned event, actually a flash mob performance orchestrated by Canadian music students, will refresh and uplift you. It truly is ambrosia for world-weary souls.






From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I first made this dish in August when sweet corn was plentiful. I found the recipe in Bon Appetit magazine and the pesto was unusual enough to intrigue me. At that time, I made the dish with fresh corn and Bob and I really liked the distinctive and sweet flavor it gave to the pesto. The finished sauce is similar to a carbonara and almost as easy to make. I wanted to make something light for last night's supper and Bob suggested this. With no fresh corn on hand, I decided to make the pesto using frozen shoepeg corn. I've had great luck using shoepeg as a replacement for fresh corn. It is lighter in color and more tender that other types of frozen corn and it's as close to the fresh product as you can get in December. I can happily report it worked well in this recipe. While I used fresh fettuccini to make the dish, a top quality brand of dried pasta would also work well. I do hope you'll try this. I know it sounds a bit strange, but it really is lovely. Here's the recipe.

Fettuccini with Corn Pesto...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite adapted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients:
4 bacon slices
1 (16-oz.) bag frozen shoepeg corn, thawed
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 -1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1/3 cup walnuts, toasted
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
12 ounces fresh pasta (tagliatelle or fettuccine)
3/4 cup coarsely torn fresh basil, divided use

Directions:
1) Cut each bacon slice in half length-wise, then crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Cook in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat.
2) Add corn, garlic, salt and pepper to skillet, and saute until the corn is just tender, but not brown, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer 1 1/2 cups of the corn to a small bowl and reserve. Transfer remainder to bowl of a food processor. Add walnuts and Parmesan. With machine running, slowly add oil through the feed tube and blend until pesto is almost smooth. Set aside.
3) Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water until just tender, but still firm and not quite as done as you would want it. Drain pasta, reserving 1-1/2 cups pasta water. Return pasta to pot and add corn pesto, reserved corn kernels, and 1/2 cup basil leaves. Toss well and add pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until desired consistency is reached. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes, or until pasta is cooked through. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
4) Divide among serving bowls and sprinkle with additional herbs, cheese, and reserved bacon.
Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy the recipes for these unusual pestos:
Caper Pesto - Foodalogue
Cilantro-Parsley Pesto - Blue Kitchen
Pesto alla Trapanese - Sugar Pies
Walnut Pesto - Smitten Kitchen
Arugula Pesto - Simply Recipes
Charred Tomato Pesto - Stephen Cooks

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

56 comments :

Faith said...

Yum! I love corn in any form or fashion and this looks delicious and a great way to bring a little bit of summer time bounty to the winter table! (especially on these grey dismal days!)

Tom said...

We just happened to have a very similar recipe for dinner tonight, but we were missing half your ingredients and yours looks much better. Love the Hallelujah chorus.

Kerstin said...

What a cool and unique pesto - perfect for when you're craving a bit of summer when it's cold out!

SKIP TO MALOU said...

it's like sunshine on a plate. will definitely perk up a hazy and cold winter night!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend Mary!

claudie said...

I love my Canadian friends. What a show Mary.
My husband started cooking, so i'll be showing him some of your awesome recipes for sure. He's trying to get me involved, sooner or later I'll give in : ) Right now i just like eating what he serves.
Happy BM Mary.
Love Claudie
xoxoo

Ginny Hartzler said...

Oh, this looks yummy!

Gypsea Nurse said...

Happy Blue Monday! And does that look absolutely amazing!! When I come up for air.. I will have to try it!
Have a wonderful week!
Cricket

Elin Chia said...

Love that video clip ! that Hallelujah song is truly warm and uplifting :) thanks for sharing and the fettuccini with corn pesto looks appetising :)

Happy Holidays and a blessed Christmas,
Elin

Katerina said...

I love unusual combinations and when it comes to pasta I never say no!

Pie said...

That looks delicious! Nice video. :)

My Blue Monday.

Lucie said...

Flashmobs always make me smile...as does corn pesto! A little sunshine in this dreary Paris weather is just what I needed. Thanks, Mary!

tata | bonitafood said...

I love both pasta and corn. I think this perfect combination is worth to try, thanks for sharing the recipe Mary :D

Diane said...

I really like the sound of this. Yum yum. Diane

Koek! said...

I think your fettuccine is ambrosia for my world weary soul...

eileeninmd said...

Happy Blue Monday! Your fettuccini sounds deleicious. I'll have to save this one too.

Ann said...

Happy Blue Monday! I love that flash mob clip. But, I especially love that fettuccini dish. Looks lovely and fresh!

Joanne said...

I've actually been dying to make this since Bon Appetit published it but thought I would have to wait until next corn season. Thanks so much for the shoepeg corn tip-off! I'll have to seek it out!

kitchen flavours said...

This looks really good. Never would have thought to make a pesto from corns! Hope you are having fun preparing for Christmas!

Unknown said...

Those flash mob things are crazy! I've seen a couple different ones, this is a great one!
I have had a lot of different pesto's in my time, but corn pesto? Definitely going to have to try this one!

Deana Sidney said...

How funny, when I glanced at your heading, I thought it was blue corn pesto... funny what your eyes can do! This looks nummy and filling and perfect for a cold winter's day!

FOODalogue said...

I think I commented when you first posted the corn pesto because it was unusual but I promptly forgot it (read too many blogs :). I'm glad Bob suggested it so that I could be reminded of this recipe. I must try it.

P.S. Thanks for linking my post about caper pesto.

Mimosa Café said...

looking soo yummy. i love pasta!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi Sweetie, I made some last night for Mr. P and the grandson didn't think to add corn, will definetly add this to my list of favs.
Happy Holidays! hugs ~lynne~

Chiara said...

That looks delicious !I will have to try it!i love it...xoxoxo

Valérie said...

I never would have thought to make corn pesto, but this sounds excellent. Happy holidays to you!

momgen said...

It is always yummy here. happy blue Monday.

Cathy said...

Thanks for sharing that wonderful video, Mary. I would love to have been sitting in that mall.

June said...

Wow - thanks Mary. You're so right. The video is uplifting and this world weary soul needed a boost. Thank you so much - your timing couldn't have been better.

Priya Suresh said...

I would love to have rite now, irresistible..

StephenC said...

What a delightfully interesting idea! I've never seen shoepeg corn at the market, but I think I'll try this with some regular frozen corn I've been trying to find an application for.

Chef E said...

Doesn't corn just sweeten things up!

Ummm, now I want pasta...

Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...

Mmmm fettuccini is one of my all time favs =) I am starving just looking at this!

ps: I cut/print coupons and mail them to my mom and sister in law =) I'm right there with ya! haha

xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

Jen_from_NJ said...

That video is just what I needed to see and the fettucine looks just delicious!

Unknown said...

Wow, looks lovely! I think a plate of this - this week would be the perfect way to unwind!!!

aipi said...

Corn pesto is new to me and as I love corn and pesto both..this is definitely bookmarked..Awesome dish!

US Masala

Faith said...

Thanks for sharing the video, Mary, it was truly lovely. The pasta looks fantastic too, what a delicious combination of ingredients!

Donnie said...

I loved that video. So inspirational and your recipe sounds so good. Have a great Blue Monday.

The Blonde Duck said...

I love the idea of corn pesto!

Karen said...

I've seen that video, and yes, it is beautiful and a favorite song of mine. I could put anything over pasta and think it's great, so this recipe fits the bill! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Mary!

Emily Z said...

The corn pesto sounds quite intriguing. I have enjoyed the idea of pesto once I realized I can make it myself and there are so many options.

Rita said...

Love the sound and the look of this recipe. great idea with that pesto.Wishing you a grest week.
Rita

FOODESSA said...

Although unsual and I had never really come across such a pesto...I am also very intrigued. I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be something delicious on pasta.
Thanks for always finding the unusuals for us Mary ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

Mrs. L said...

I'd love to be part of a flash mob...though not a singing one as I can't carry a tune. Love this, thank you!

SmilingSally said...

A friend sent me a copy of this musical presentation; I loved it!


Happy Blue Monday, Mary.

teresa said...

oh how loved that flash mob video, thanks for sharing. i would pay money to get caught in a mob like this, what a fun experience!

this looks amazing, i've never heard of corn pesto, but it sounds brilliant. enjoy your monday!

Terry said...

Howdy
Oh my goodness yum,yum,yum,and the hallelujah chorus too !
Thank you for such an awesome Blue Monday post .
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Until next time
Happy Trails

Unknown said...

Corn pesto sounds so exciting and I am a big pasta fan so I'm saving this recipe to try later.
Love the Hallelujah Flash mob!
Have a great day Mary.

Flavia Galasso said...

This is a great idea!!!Corn pesto..i have to try this!!

I wish you and your family a very merry and blessed Christmas, hugs. Flavia. BUON NATALE

Claudia said...

Corn pesto is a wonderful idea and now I'm mad I never thought of it. You do think deliciously out of the box sometimes and for that I am grateful. It looks like a perfect addition to my repertoire - and a welcome taste of summer.

That flash mob youtube has had me smiling since early November!

Alessandra said...

Corn pesto! Wow, that is innovative!

I have mine in the garden growing... two more months maybe....

ciao
Alessandra

Bakericious said...

this is delicious, I love to have a plate now.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

This sounds wonderful - it's practically a pantry dinner too, and easy to keep the ingredients on hand.

Julie said...

Beautiful dish! I am sure it tastes as delicious as it looks!!! Wishing you a beautiful holiday!

Jeannie said...

Anything with bacon bits is tasty to me and with corn added is even better! Looks like a lovely dish! Happy Holidays to you Mary:)

Jacqueline said...

I liked it and your description (of course, plus your picture) that I am printing it off now and I love shoepeg corn too.

Diana's Cocina said...

This dish has everything I love. Thank you for sharing. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

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