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You are here: Home / Cooking Times / a) 30 mins or less / Walnut and Watercress Pesto

Walnut and Watercress Pesto

5th April 2017 - By Michelle Minnaar
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Walnut and watercress pesto is a fabulous addition to any of your pasta dishes. It will provide a freshness and crispiness to the usually bland taste do the dish. Along with bits of flaked salmon and parmesan shavings, you will end up with a restaurant-quality meal. Great for serving your guests during dinner parties or if you feel like preparing your packed work lunch the night before. It doesn’t require a lot of effort either. You colleagues will definitely ask you about the walnut and watercress pesto. It’s not so commonly used so feel free to brag about your cooking skills.

Salmon Pasta Watercress Pesto

Walnut pesto

Walnut pesto is a healthier substitute to the traditional pine nut pesto or Pesto Alla Genovese. There are two main differences between the traditional pesto and watercress and walnut pesto. Instead of the basil, I used watercress – arguably, a much healthier plant. Walnuts give you a good blast of the good omega-3 fats. Combined with parmesan, you’ll get an excellent serving of protein. No need to eat meat! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try the basil and pistachio pesto.

History of pesto

The traditional pine nut-basil pesto originated in Italy during the Roman era. It’s called Pesto Alla Genovese. For more information on the history of pesto, click here. There you’ll find a great avocado pesto recipe that might just be worthy competitor to this watercress pesto. Let us know which one you preferred best by leaving a comment below!

Watercress Parmesant Walnuts

Walnuts

Walnuts have been around since 7000 B.C. They come from the walnut tree and are collected in hard shells. You probably know that as it’s tradition to crack walnuts during Christmas time using nutcrackers. Did you know that roughly 70% of walnuts are produced in California?

The Health Benefits of Walnuts

Walnuts are great source of vitamins that help your body in numerous ways. First, as mentioned above, they are rich in omega-3 acids that help stimulate your brain. Perhaps this is the reason people call walnuts ‘brain food’. Second, they are fantastic for your heart and metabolism. If you eat a handful of nuts between your meals, you won’t feel as hungry and ultimately might lose weight. Lastly, walnuts contain anti-inflammatory properties.

Diabetics

The watercress and walnut pesto is great if you suffer from diabetes – both type I and type II. They help in controlling sugar cravings and sugar spikes in your blood. Not mentioning the fact that they contain EFAs (essential fatty acids).

Pesto Processed

The Health Benefits of Watercress

It is argued by some that watercress is even more healthy than walnuts. Imagine, if you make watercress and walnut pesto, you get one vitamin bomb meal. If your kids like pasta, but don’t enjoy green veggies so much, watercress and walnut pesto is the perfect addition. The watercress will give them just the right amount of vitamins for the day. For more information on the health benefits of watercress, click right here: https://www.greedygourmet.com/recipes-for-diets/vegan/watercress-salad-dressing/

Salmon

Salmon and watercress is a great marriage of flavours. In fact, I’ve combined salmon with a watercress sauce before. Here I only used  flakes of cooked salmon with the watercress and walnut pesto. The pesto is quite filling itself as it contains walnuts and parmesan, which are rich ingredients. I wouldn’t recommend using an entire fillet of salmon. With a few flakes sprinkled on top of the pasta, you get the right amount of balance between the ingredients.

Pasta Cooked

Watercress pesto’s consistency

I would recommend blending the mixture until completely smooth. The walnuts and parmesan are ingredients that already have a pretty course texture.

Lemon juice

As soon as you finish mixing the ingredients together, you can add a bit of lemon juice or lemon zest. The lemon juice or lemon zest will give you a tangy flavour with a lasting freshness. You can also substitute with lime. I prefer lemon with the recipe. If you tried lime, let us know how it worked out for you!

Pasta

I used farfalle pasta in this recipe. The shape of the pasta ads just the right amount of texture to the dish. In addition, kids love this type of pasta. You can also use different types of pasta for this recipe such as: penne, spaghetti, tagliatelle, etc.

Parmesan Salmon Watercress Walnut Pesto

Gluten free

If for some reason, you can’t eat gluten or pasta, you should try making courgetti, also known as zucchini noodles. It’s just as delicious, much more healthy and great for digestion. The zucchini pasta will leave you feeling light and fresh. Top it off with some fresh watercress.

If you like what you’ve read, click on these for more inspirational and yummy dishes:

Watercress Salad Dressing

Watercress Salad with Smoked Salmon, Blue Cheese, Pear and Walnuts

Watercress Soup

Avocado Pesto

Basil & Pistachio Pesto

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Cook Watercress Pesto

Walnut & Watercress Pesto


★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Michelle Minnaar
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
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Ingredients

  • 75g (2½oz) watercress, washed
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled
  • 45ml (3 tbsp) olive oil
  • 60g (2 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 60g (2 oz) walnuts
  • Juice of 1 lemon [optional]
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.
  2. Season to taste and serve, or freeze.

Notes

  • In the photo I served the pesto with pasta, cooked salmon and shavings of parmesan.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 238
  • Sodium: 151 mg
  • Fat: 22.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2.5 g
  • Fiber: 1.3 g
  • Protein: 9 g
  • Cholesterol: 11 mg

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Pesto Watercress

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Comments

  1. Hannah Hossack-Lodge says

    5th April 2017 at 12:19 pm

    I make a lot of home made pestos but I haven’t tried a walnut and watercress one before, definitely one to try as I love watercress!

    Reply
  2. Tracey Peach says

    5th April 2017 at 12:22 pm

    I have a confession to make….I’ve never tried Pesto! so I don’t know which are my favourite flavours I really should try some!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Angela says

    5th April 2017 at 12:26 pm

    What a fantastic recipe, I love pesto so much! This is a great alternative.

    Reply
  4. Harline says

    5th April 2017 at 3:56 pm

    Not tried pesto ever something I must do

    Reply
  5. Christine Dodd says

    5th April 2017 at 4:08 pm

    Long stemmed broccoli anchovy chilli and garlic

    Reply
  6. Tracy Nixon says

    5th April 2017 at 4:22 pm

    I love pesto with mozzarella or chicken or pinenuts – or all four together served with pasta or on ciabatta!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Ceri Jones says

    5th April 2017 at 4:29 pm

    I love walnut in pesto, and it pairs so well with salmon too. lovely dish!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Lindsey C says

    5th April 2017 at 6:07 pm

    kale and walnut

    Reply
  9. Mary N says

    5th April 2017 at 6:14 pm

    I love pesto made with spinach, avocado, walnut and garlic pesto. I make my own pesto as most shop bought pesto has Parmesan cheese which is not suitable for vegetarians. I have never made pesto using watercress so i’m looking forward to using it to make pesto.

    Reply
  10. laura banks says

    5th April 2017 at 6:39 pm

    pesto with a lot of garlic

    Reply
  11. cheryl hadfield says

    5th April 2017 at 8:40 pm

    I love pesto and mozzerello

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  12. A S,Edinburgh says

    5th April 2017 at 11:50 pm

    Traditional pine nut and basil, with parmesan.

    Reply
  13. Christine Dodd says

    6th April 2017 at 2:13 pm

    I’ve signed up

    Reply
  14. Laura Pritchard says

    6th April 2017 at 9:03 pm

    We love red pesto with pasta, tuna & sweetcorn.

    Reply
  15. Ray Dodds says

    8th April 2017 at 6:32 pm

    Traditional pine nut and basil is my fave

    Reply
  16. CLAIRE woods says

    8th April 2017 at 7:47 pm

    pesto and mozzerello

    Reply
  17. Ruth Harwood says

    10th April 2017 at 6:45 am

    Broccoli and garlic with a squeeze of lemon x

    Reply
  18. Mary says

    10th April 2017 at 11:56 am

    What a beautiful dish! This alternative pesto recipe is definitely one to try. With such simple ingredients, its easy to make yourself, and there’s the added benefit of having control as to what goes in it – fresh ingredients, locally produced if possible, and whatever little adjustments you make to suit your own palette. Thanks for sharing this delicious dish!

    Reply
    • michelle says

      14th April 2017 at 10:39 am

      You are so right, Mary!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
  19. Clare Hubbard says

    14th April 2017 at 4:16 pm

    I like a traditional basil and pine nut

    Reply
  20. Solange says

    16th April 2017 at 4:23 am

    I like red pesto with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and Parmesan

    Reply
  21. Keith Hunt says

    16th April 2017 at 7:57 pm

    the wife makes diced cheese and pesto stuffed chicken breasts

    Reply
  22. janine atkin says

    17th April 2017 at 11:37 am

    i like it with cheese

    Reply
  23. pete c says

    17th April 2017 at 9:50 pm

    Fennel Pesto with cream cheese

    Reply
  24. Victoria Prince says

    18th April 2017 at 11:03 am

    I like a traditional pesto with basil, pine nuts and parmesan 🙂 to be honest I have never thought about experimenting and I will definitely be thinking of a pesto in a new and more outside the box way now!

    Reply
  25. jo liddement says

    21st April 2017 at 12:12 pm

    I grow my own basil in the garden every year and make my own pesto with walnuts and then freeze portions in silicone ice cube trays so i can just take out as much as i need for meals.

    Reply
  26. Sheri Darby says

    26th April 2017 at 8:26 pm

    Basil and pine nuts with a touch of garlic

    Reply
  27. Jade Hewlett says

    28th April 2017 at 9:17 am

    I like pesto with mozzarella

    Reply
  28. Elizabeth Smith says

    28th April 2017 at 12:49 pm

    Chicken, basil pesto and mozzarella

    Reply
  29. Donna Caldwell says

    28th April 2017 at 4:51 pm

    I’ve never tried making my own pesto

    Reply
  30. Claire Davies says

    29th April 2017 at 9:11 am

    Basil, Coriander and Almond Pesto 🙂 Delicious with pasta 🙂

    Reply
  31. Sandra Fortune says

    29th April 2017 at 9:59 am

    I’ve never had pesto but would love to try after seeing your healthy recipe. I love watercress and walnuts

    Reply
  32. Sandra Fortune says

    29th April 2017 at 10:07 am

    Never tried pesto but would like to after seeing this lovely healthy recipe. Love watercress and walnuts

    Reply
  33. Marie Rule says

    29th April 2017 at 11:25 am

    I love the combination of pesto with sun-dried tomatoes.

    Reply
  34. Adrian Bold says

    29th April 2017 at 9:17 pm

    I love walnut and kale

    Reply
  35. Lyndsey Shingler says

    29th April 2017 at 9:51 pm

    I’ve just discovered wild garlic and hazelnut pesto. YUM!

    Reply
  36. Fiona jk42 says

    29th April 2017 at 10:10 pm

    I’m not sure if it counts as a pesto or a dip, but I love muhammara with walnuts, chillis and herbs

    Reply
  37. Diane Duggan says

    29th April 2017 at 11:33 pm

    I like red pepper and Pecorino cheese pesto.

    Reply

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