VEG BOX STAR

Veg box star ROCKET

Anyone who’s grown rocket will know its name is apt – when in season, it’s abundant, so this recipe can easily be doubled if you have a glut

recipe SAMUEL GOLDSMITH photograph YUKI SUGIURA

Rocket pesto

MAKES 1 small jar (about 325g) PREP 5 mins COOK 3 mins EASY V

45g walnuts 90g rocket 45g parmesan or vegetarian alternative 1 garlic clove 150ml olive oil, plus 1 tbsp 1 lemon, zested and juiced

1 Toast the walnuts in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 2-3 mins until lightly golden. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then put in a food processor or pestle and mortar with the rocket, parmesan, garlic, 150ml olive oil and the lemon zest and juice. Season well. 2 Blitz or pound to a rough paste, then transfer to a clean jar and top with the extra 1 tbsp oil. Will keep in the fridge for up to five days. Enjoy stirred through pasta, or see bbcgoodfoodme.com for plenty of recipes using pesto.

GOOD TO KNOW gluten free PER SERVING 90 kcals • fat 9g • saturates 2g • carbs 0.1g • sugars 0.1g • fibre 0.2g • protein 1g • salt 0.04g

MORE WAYS WITH ROCKET

Ideas from the food team

Rocket & egg pizzas Lay 2 seeded wraps on baking sheets, brush with oil and warm in the oven. Meanwhile, combine chopped roasted red pepper, chopped fresh tomatoes, tomato purée, chopped fresh herbs and seasoning. Turn the wraps and spread over the tomato mixture. Make a well, break in an egg, bake until set and scatter with rocket.

Mushroom, ricotta & rocket tart Score a border around a sheet of puff pastry. Bake for 10-15 mins. Mix a crushed garlic clove with some ricotta and nutmeg and season well. Spread the mixture over the pastry, top with fried mushrooms and a sliced garlic clove. Bake for a further 5 mins and top with rocket.

Tangy rocket & fennel salad Whisk together the juice of 1 lemon, 3 tbsp olive oil and some seasoning. Combine thinly sliced fennel, rocket and sliced red onion, and toss in the dressing.

For all these recipes and more go to bbcgoodfoodme.com

...and from our UK readers

‘I sometimes put rocket in my Asian noodle soups if I have a bit I need to use up, or I’ll have it with an omelette.’

Nancy Charoen Ledlie, West Sussex

‘Lately, I have been sweating it down with some spring onions and garlic and putting it in a quiche, but I love it with parmesan and balsamic vinegar as a side with steak.’

Andrea Parker, Bournemouth

‘Addicted! My current favourite lunch is loads of rocket, cucumber and pickles with scrambled egg, topped with crispy onions and sweet chilli sauce.’

Cat Leckerman, Glasgow