How to cook with pesto

Made from basil, garlic and pine nuts, the Italian sauce is versatile and just a small amount of it dramatically changes a dish

(Great British Chefs)

Pesto potatoes by Shaun Hill

Shaun Hill's quick and easy pesto potato recipe is a great example of how to liven up new potatoes. If you have the time, you can also make your own pesto.

600g of new potatoes, peeled and halved
20g of butter
2 tbsp of green pesto
1 tbsp of basil leaves, torn
1 tbsp of parsley, torn
salt
1 pinch of black pepper

Place the potatoes in a pan of cold water with 2 pinches of salt and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 - 12 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Drain and leave in the colander for a few minutes so the steam can escape.

Return the potatoes to the pan with the pesto, butter, salt and pepper and mix to coat. Stir through the basil and parsley and serve.

(Great British Chefs)

Hake with coriander pesto and chargrilled tomatoes by Monica Shaw

Have you tried this firm, sweet and delicious member of the cod family? Monica Shaw's easy to make hake recipe, paired with sweet, chargrilled Piccolo tomatoes and a glorious coriander pesto.

4 hake fillets
olive oil
flour
Piccolo tomatoes, 16-20
salt
pepper

Coriander pesto

60g of coriander leaves
40g of walnuts
2 garlic cloves, chopped
½ lemon, juiced
​125ml of olive oil

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Make the pesto by putting everything in a food processor with a pinch of salt and blitzing to a purée. Preheat up your grill or outdoor BBQ. Season the fish with salt and pepper, then cover lightly with flour.

Heat up an oven-safe frying pan on medium-high heat. Add a glug of olive oil and then the fish fillets. Leave to fry for 4 minutes then transfer to the oven for another 4 minutes (or until the fish is done - cooking time will depend on the thickness of your fish).

While the fish is cooking, grill the tomatoes for just a few minutes, until they start to burst. Serve the fish skin side up with a dollop of pesto and the cherry tomatoes.

​For more recipes, visit greatbritishchefs.com