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Pasta with watercress and radish pesto

Published: 15 Jun 22
Updated: 25 Mar 24

Use up summer veg in this vibrant pasta recipe with a peppery radish and watercress pesto. The thrifty recipe uses every part of the radish to cut down on food waste.

Make the most of summer produce in your midweek meals with more of our summer pasta recipes.

Easy
June 2022

Test kitchen approved

Serves 4
Hands-on time 15 min

Use up summer veg in this vibrant pasta recipe with a peppery radish and watercress pesto. The thrifty recipe uses every part of the radish to cut down on food waste.

Make the most of summer produce in your midweek meals with more of our summer pasta recipes.

Vegetarian recipes

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 689kcals
Fat: 33.9g (7.9g saturated)
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrates: 65.1g (4.6g sugars)
Fibre: 9.6g
Salt: 0.4g

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Ingredients

Bunch radishes with leaves (about 275g), radishes finely sliced, leaves roughly chopped
80g watercress
70g pumpkin seeds, toasted
70g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated
2 garlic cloves, crushed
Grated zest and juice 1 lemon
100ml olive oil
300g trofie (or another shape)
250g frozen peas

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Method

Put the radish leaves and half the watercress and any thick watercress stalks in a food processor. Add the pumpkin seeds, cheese, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Whizz to a paste, then tip in half the sliced radishes. Pour in the oil, season with salt and pepper, then pulse until the radishes are finely chopped.
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions until al dente, adding the peas for the final 1 minute of cooking. Reserve a cupful of cooking water. Drain and return the pasta and peas to the pan, then stir in the pesto, adding enough of the cooking water to loosen so it coats the pasta. Divide among plates and top with the rest of the radish slices and watercress.

Recipe from June 2022 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 689kcals
Fat: 33.9g (7.9g saturated)
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrates: 65.1g (4.6g sugars)
Fibre: 9.6g
Salt: 0.4g

delicious. tips

NEXT TIME You could spread the pesto over crostini with some crumbled feta, dollop onto salmon or steak or use to dress boiled new potatoes.
Chill the sauce in a tub for up to a week, or freeze for up to a month.