Purple Sprouting Broccoli With Anchovy Hazelnut Pesto Food

PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI WITH ANCHOVY & HAZELNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Wash the artichokes thoroughly and remove any small, tufty bits. You don't need to peel them - just halve them lengthways if they're small, or cut into 2.5cm chunks if you're using larger artichokes. If you are not going to cook them immediately, put them in a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice to stop their flesh discolouring. If you're using leeks, trim them and cut into fat chunks.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 5. Drain the artichokes, pat them dry and put them (or the leeks) in a roasting tin large enough to hold them in a single layer. Season and add the olive oil. Toss everything together and cook for 30-45 mins until the veg is completely tender.
• Meanwhile, make the pesto. Put the anchovies, garlic and hazelnuts in a food processor with some freshly ground black pepper. Blend while adding the olive oil. Taste, then add the lemon juice, tasting as you go. If it seems too thick, add a drop of water (you should be able to drizzle the mixture). Stir in the parsley.
• Trim the base of the chicory and separate the leaves; separate the radicchio leaves too, and tear them into pieces. Steam the broccoli until it is just tender (insert the tip of a knife to test for doneness). Pat dry with a tea towel (there's moisture on the surface after steaming, which makes it diffcult for the dressing to cling to it). Season the broccoli.
• Toss the artichokes or leeks gently with the purple sprouting broccoli, the leaves (including the watercress), 2 tsp lemon juice, the balsamic, olive oil and a little more seasoning. Tip onto a serving platter, spoon over some of the pesto and scatter on the hazelnuts. Serve the remaining pesto in a bowl.

BROCCOLI & ANCHOVY ORECCHIETTE

Steps:

• Using a small knife, trim round the broccoli to remove the dark green florets from the main stalks and put them to one side. Peel the stalks, trim off the dry end and throw this away. Peel and chop the garlic.
• Finely chop the broccoli stalk and put into a large pan with the garlic, anchovies and half the butter. Crumble in the chilli, cover with a lid and cook slowly for 8 to 10 minutes while you cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions.
• Something I like to do which is slightly different (but better, I'd like to think) is to cook the broccoli florets with the pasta for the last 4 minutes - this makes them soft enough to eat but leaves them with great colour and texture.
• Drain the pasta and broccoli, saving a little of the cooking water, then toss into the other pan. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Season to taste with sea salt, black pepper, the rest of the butter and finely grate in a large handful of Parmesan. Mix well, adding a little of the cooking water, to loosen, if needed, and make it shine.
• Serve immediately, sprinkling with another good handful of finely grated Parmesan.