Ingredients

For the spaghetti and tomatoes:
  • 400g spaghetti or other pasta
  • 16 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 teaspoons best balsamic vinegar
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Handful of fresh basil leaves
For the watercress pesto:
  • 2 small garlic cloves, any sprout removed
  • 100g watercress, leaves and stems, washed and drained, roughly chopped
  • ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 50g pine nuts or cashew nuts
  • 20g Parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 60ml extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Method

Put a large pan of well-salted water on to boil.

Place the tomatoes in a small bowl and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, sea salt and pepper. Tear in the basil leaves and stir.

Make the pesto. In a food processor or blender, first whizz the garlic cloves until finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and blend to a paste. Taste for seasoning.

Cook the spaghetti until done to your liking. Drain quickly but do not let it drain too dry – a little moisture will help distribute the pesto. Return the pasta to the hot pan and stir through the pesto until evenly mixed.

Divide the spaghetti amongst four warmed bowls and top with the marinated tomatoes and a light drizzle of olive oil. Eat your Watercress Pesto Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes right away.

Ingredients

For the spaghetti and tomatoes:
  • 400g spaghetti or other pasta
  • 16 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 teaspoons best balsamic vinegar
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Handful of fresh basil leaves
For the watercress pesto:
  • 2 small garlic cloves, any sprout removed
  • 100g watercress, leaves and stems, washed and drained, roughly chopped
  • ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 50g pine nuts or cashew nuts
  • 20g Parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 60ml extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Method

Put a large pan of well-salted water on to boil.

Place the tomatoes in a small bowl and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, sea salt and pepper. Tear in the basil leaves and stir.

Make the pesto. In a food processor or blender, first whizz the garlic cloves until finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and blend to a paste. Taste for seasoning.

Cook the spaghetti until done to your liking. Drain quickly but do not let it drain too dry – a little moisture will help distribute the pesto. Return the pasta to the hot pan and stir through the pesto until evenly mixed.

Divide the spaghetti amongst four warmed bowls and top with the marinated tomatoes and a light drizzle of olive oil. Eat your Watercress Pesto Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes right away.