Best 5 Watercress Pesto Recipes

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Are you looking for a flavorful and healthy pesto recipe that will add a unique twist to your favorite dishes? Look no further than watercress pesto! This vibrant green sauce is made with fresh watercress, olive oil, nuts, and a variety of herbs and spices. It's incredibly versatile and can be used as a spread, a dip, or a marinade. Best of all, it's packed with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, and antioxidants. In this article, we'll share our top tips for making the best watercress pesto, including ingredient variations and creative serving ideas.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

WATERCRESS PESTO PASTA



Watercress Pesto Pasta image

Watercress, which contains many disease-preventing phytochemicals, has small, perky leaves that are easy to work into sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Pasta and Grains

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 bunch watercress, tough stems removed (about 5 1/2 cups), divided
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt
Pinch of red-pepper flakes, or to taste
10 ounces farro spaghetti or whole-wheat spaghetti

Steps:

  • Pulse 5 cups watercress, pine nuts, lemon zest, and garlic in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Add oil and pulse to combine. Season with salt and red-pepper flakes.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water; drain pasta. Return pasta to pot and stir in pesto. Add enough reserved pasta water, a small amount at a time, to coat pasta and make a light sauce. Season with salt and top with remaining watercress.

WATERCRESS PESTO WITH WHITE BEANS



Watercress Pesto with White Beans image

Stir creamy white beans into a puree of pine nuts, watercress and Pecorino-Romano for a robust pesto.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 10m

Yield about 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/3 cup lightly toasted pine nuts
3 cups loosely packed watercress
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
1/2 cup coarsely grated Pecorino-Romano
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup white beans

Steps:

  • Put the pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the watercress, garlic, red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon salt and pulse until finely chopped. Add the Pecorino-Romano and pulse to combine. With the motor running, slowly pour in the oil and process until combined. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the white beans.

WATERCRESS PESTO



WATERCRESS PESTO image

Categories     Herb

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup tightly packed watercress
1/8 cup olive oil
½ clove garlic
2 Tablespoons toasted pine nuts
4 Tablespoons Parmesan
½ cup ricotta
Pinch of salt

Steps:

  • Blend Watercress, olive oil, garlic in a blender or food processor. Add Pine nuts, when smooth place in a bowl and add grated Parmesan and a pinch of salt. Add ricotta and stir well

NUTTY WATERCRESS PESTO



Nutty watercress pesto image

An easy, versatile sauce of herbs, Brazil nuts and cheese - perfect added to pasta or spiralized courgetti for a quick meal

Provided by Miriam Nice

Categories     Condiment, Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Pasta, Supper

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

100g pack watercress
small bunch basil
1 garlic clove
50g Brazil nut chopped
1 lemon juice
25g parmesan shavings (or vegetarian alternative)
2 tbsp rapeseed oil

Steps:

  • Pop the watercress, basil, garlic and Brazil nuts into a food processor. Blitz until very finely chopped. Add the remaining pesto ingredients and pulse again until mixed, then season to taste. Will keep, well covered, for 4-5 days in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 41 calories, Fat 4 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Protein 1 grams protein

LINGUINE WITH WATERCRESS & ALMOND PESTO



Linguine with watercress & almond pesto image

Make your own Italian sauce from nuts, garlic and watercress, add a touch of lemon and serve with pasta

Provided by Cassie Best

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 17m

Number Of Ingredients 8

200g linguine or spaghetti
85g bag watercress
1 garlic clove , roughly chopped
25g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), half grated, half shaved
50g toasted flaked almond
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp sugar

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile, put the watercress and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and blend for a few secs until finely chopped. Add the grated cheese, half the almonds, the olive oil, lemon juice and sugar. Season well, then blend until you have a smooth purée consistency.
  • When the linguine is cooked, drain, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pan and pour over the pesto, using a little pasta water to loosen the sauce if necessary. Stir everything together and divide between 2 bowls. To serve, top with the shaved cheese and remaining almonds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 766 calories, Fat 40 grams fat, SaturatedFat 7 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 79 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 23 grams protein, Sodium 0.3 milligram of sodium

Watercress Pesto: Culinary Expertise, Practical Recipe, and Culinary Methods

Watercress pesto is a vibrant and herbaceous culinary masterpiece that captures the peppery zest of watercress, the nutty richness of walnuts, and the aromatic symphony of herbs. This article embarks on a culinary journey, unveiling the culinary techniques and practicalities behind crafting this delectable pesto. By demystifying the process, we aim to inspire home cooks and aspiring culinary enthusiasts to embrace this culinary creation.

Unveiling Culinary Expertise:

  • Ingredient Symphony: The culinary brilliance of watercress pesto lies in the harmonious orchestration of ingredients. The peppery kick of watercress, the nutty undertones of walnuts, the sharp pungency of Parmesan cheese, the aromatic embrace of basil and parsley, and the vibrant acidity of lemons converge to create a symphony of flavors.
  • Crafting Harmony: Achieving culinary synergy in watercress pesto requires a careful balancing act. The assertive flavors of watercress and walnuts demand restraint in the amounts of herbs, cheese, and oil. This culinary dance necessitates a deft touch, with each ingredient gracefully contributing to the overall composition.
  • Culinary Alchemy: The culinary alchemy of watercress pesto unfolds in the blending process. A high-speed blender orchestrates a culinary masterpiece, seamlessly emulsi cantidadng the vibrant ingredients into a smooth, velvety, and aromatic emulsion. This culinary technique ensures an even distribution of flavors and textures, creating a culinary masterpiece.

Practical Recipe: A Culinary Roadmap:

  • Culinary Precision: Embarking on this culinary journey necessitates precise measurements. The recipe, a testament to culinary accuracy, provides meticulously calibrated ingredient ratios, guiding home cooks through the culinary process.
  • Culinary Symphony: The culinary method, a carefully choreographed sequence, outlines each culinary step with clarity. From the initial preparation of ingredients to the final blending, the recipe provides a culinary roadmap, guiding home cooks through the culinary process with unwavering accuracy.

Culinary Inspiration:

  • Culinary Canvas: Watercress pesto, a culinary canvas, awaits the creative culinary expression of home cooks. It can be used as a vibrant spread for sandwiches, a flavorful drizzle for roasted or grilled meats, or an herbaceous topping for salads. Its culinary versatility knows no culinary boundaries.

Conclusion: A Culinary Celebration:

Watercress pesto, a culinary masterpiece, is a symphony of flavors and textures. Its vibrant color, peppery zest, and nutty richness captivate taste buds, leaving a culinary trail of aromatic heaven. This culinary journey, through culinary techniques and practicalities, empowers home cooks to create this culinary masterpiece, celebrating the artistry of food. So, embark on this culinary journey, embrace the culinary process, and savor the culinary creation, savoring the culinary masterpiece that awaits.

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