Pea shoots pesto recipe

I’ve recently been enjoying home delivered growing pea shoots from Leafy urban farm in Edinburgh. Pea shoots, also known as serge, are baby pea plants, a nutrient-rich superfood in their own right. They are full of Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K. They're a low-calorie source of beta carotene, folate, fibre, riboflavin and thiamine. A perfect food to keep you healthy over winter. Here’s my recipe for a simple pesto sauce that makes quick weeknight pasta sauce. No need to cook, just combine the pesto with your cooked pasta at the last minute for a bright green vitamin boost.

Ingredients

60g pea shoots (serge)

60mL good quality virgin olive oil

handful fresh basil leaves

20g pine nuts

grind of salt to taste

1 small clove garlic (optional)

Method

• Gently toast pine nuts and allow to cool.

• Zizz all the ingredients in a blender, reserving half of the pine nuts for sprinkling on top of the finished pasta dish.

• Cook your pasta as per instructions, drain and then toss with the pesto.

• Garnish with pea shoot tips and toasted pine nuts, a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese optional.