
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams
Buttermilk powder might sound like an unexpected ingredient to add to pasta, but hear me out: It tastes just like boxed mac and cheese powder in the best way possible. When combined with nothing more than pasta water and a bit of butter, the buttermilk powder transforms into a cheesy sauce that’s glossy, clingy, and delightfully nostalgic. Think Annie’s white-cheddar-style mac, only tangier and more zesty. Here that zippy pasta sauce coats orecchiette alongside a bushel of corn kernels that happily nestle into the bellies of the pasta (you can use frozen corn in a pinch). Everything gets amped up with fresh basil and some optional jalapeño slivers if you’re looking for a pop of heat.

