VIRGIN GREEN RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Trim and slice the spring onions. Trim the leek, halve it lengthways, wash it, then finely slice. Finely slice the broccoli stalks, reserving the tips.
  2. Put a large, non-stick, shallow casserole pan on a medium heat.
  3. Put 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the pan, with the spring onions, leeks and broccoli stalks. Peel and finely chop the garlic and add to the pan.
  4. Add the frozen spinach and peas, then add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
  5. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until soft but not coloured and the spinach has defrosted, stirring regularly.
  6. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water, according to the packet instructions, adding the broccoli florets for the last 2 minutes.
  7. While everything is ticking away, finely grate the Parmesan.
  8. Scoop or pour out about 200ml of cooking water from the pasta into your veg pan. Now, you can either leave your sauce chunky, blitz it until smooth in a blender, or use a hand blender to go somewhere in between – it’s up to you.
  9. Drain the pasta and broccoli, and tip it into the sauce. Add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and the grated Parmesan, and toss it all together.
  10. I like to finish this with a sprinkling of fresh herbs – parsley, basil, thyme, whatever you’ve got. A little extra grating of Parmesan is always nice, and a big salad on the side.

Steps:

• 1. Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
  2. Meanwhile, peel the garlic. Tear the stems out of the cavolo and discard, adding the leaves and the garlic to the pasta pan for 5 minutes.
  3. Pour 1½ tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into a blender, then finely grate in the Parmesan.
  4. Use tongs to carefully transfer the cavolo leaves and garlic straight into the blender and blitz for a few minutes until super-smooth. Taste and season to perfection with sea salt and black pepper.
  5. Drain the pasta, reserving a mugful of cooking water.
  6. Return it to the pan and toss with the vibrant green sauce, loosening with a splash of reserved cooking water, if needed, then divide between your plates.
  7. Dot over the ricotta, drizzle with a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil, and tuck right in.