Best 6 Watercress Pesto Recipes

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Feast your taste buds on a culinary journey with our tantalizing watercress pesto recipes, a symphony of flavors that will elevate your meals to new heights. Discover the vibrant Watercress Pesto, bursting with the peppery freshness of watercress, zesty lemon, and nutty Parmesan in a luscious olive oil base. Elevate your sandwiches, pasta, or grilled meats with this versatile condiment.

For a creamy twist, indulge in our Watercress Pesto with Cashews, where the mild sweetness of cashews complements the watercress's piquant notes. This creamy spread is perfect for crackers, vegetables, or as a dip for your favorite appetizers.

If you prefer a dairy-free option, our Vegan Watercress Pesto is a delightful choice. This vibrant pesto swaps Parmesan for nutritional yeast, while silken tofu adds a creamy texture, making it an excellent vegan alternative.

Explore the unique flavors of our Watercress Pesto with Arugula, where the peppery bite of arugula blends harmoniously with watercress, creating a complex and flavorful pesto. This pesto is sure to add a touch of excitement to your pizzas, pasta dishes, or grilled vegetables.

And for a zesty kick, our Watercress Pesto with Chilli is the perfect choice. The addition of spicy chili peppers brings a fiery touch to the classic watercress pesto, making it an excellent accompaniment to grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or as a marinade for tofu or tempeh.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

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.

PISTACHIO, WATERCRESS AND GOUDA PESTO



Pistachio, Watercress and Gouda Pesto image

Aged Gouda is blended with pistachios, watercress and garlic for a unique take on pesto.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 10m

Yield about 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/3 cup lightly toasted pistachios
3 cups loosely packed watercress
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
Kosher salt
1/2 cup coarsely grated aged Gouda cheese
1/2 cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Put the pistachios in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the watercress, garlic, red pepper flakes, tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon salt and pulse until finely chopped. Add the Gouda and pulse to combine. With the motor running, slowly pour in the olive oil and process until combined. Transfer to a bowl.

25 BEST WAYS TO COOK WITH WATERCRESS



25 Best Ways to Cook with Watercress image

These tasty watercress recipes are such a welcome surprise! From stir-fry to salad to soup and pizza, watercress is a wonderful addition to many dishes.

Provided by insanelygood

Categories     Recipe Roundup

Number Of Ingredients 25

Stir-fried Watercress
Japanese Watercress Salad
Chinese Watercress Soup with Pork Ribs (Sai Yeung Choy Tong)
Watercress Pesto: Vibrant Green Sauce or Spread
Watercress Sauce
Tropical Watercress Smoothie
Green Watercress Omelet
Watercress Steamed Meatballs
Watercress Pesto Pizza with Blue Cheese and Balsamic Glaze
Watercress Salad with Avocado, Orange, and Chia Seeds
Watercress Wonton Soup
Simple Watercress Salad With Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette
Leek and Potato Soup with Watercress
Pink Grapefruit and Watercress Salad
Sauteed Watercress with Garlic
Zucchini Watercress Soup
Tomato, Red Onion, Watercress, Feta, and Olive Salad
Apple, Pear, Almond, and Watercress Salad
Hamburger Watercress Recipe
Vietnamese Meatball and Watercress Soup
Pork Watercress Soup
Chinese Watercress Soup with Honey Dates
Watercress and Forbidden Rice Salad with Ginger Vinaigrette
Peach and Cherry Watercress Salad
Watercress Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches

Steps:

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a watercress recipe in 30 minutes or less!

Nutrition Facts :

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

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

Tips:

  • Choose fresh, vibrant watercress for the best flavor and color in your pesto.
  • Use a high-quality olive oil to ensure a rich, nutty flavor in your pesto.
  • Toast the walnuts or pine nuts before adding them to the pesto to enhance their flavor and texture.
  • Grate the Parmesan or Pecorino cheese finely to ensure it blends smoothly into the pesto.
  • Add lemon juice and zest to taste to brighten up the pesto and balance its flavors.
  • Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting the amounts to your preference.

Conclusion:

With its vibrant green color, peppery flavor, and versatility, watercress pesto is a delicious and healthy addition to your culinary repertoire. Its unique taste makes it a perfect complement to various dishes, from pasta and salads to grilled meats and vegetables. Experiment with different ingredients and variations to create your own signature watercress pesto that will impress your friends and family. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to explore new flavors, watercress pesto is a must-try recipe that will add a touch of freshness and sophistication to your meals.

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