Salmon & rocket fettuccine

• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 400 g (14 oz) dried fettuccine, linguine or spaghetti
• 4 x 125 g (41/2 oz) salmon fillets
• juice of 1 lemon
• Pesto
• 50 g (13/4 oz) rocket, plus extra to serve
• 65 g (21/2 oz) Parmesan cheese, roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 120 ml (4 fl oz) olive oil

To serve

• rocket
• grated Parmesan cheese

First make the pesto by placing the rocket, Parmesan and pine nuts in a food processor or liquidiser.

Add a little seasoning and a splash of oil and blitz until roughly chopped. Gradually trickle in the remaining oil with the motor running until a coarse paste forms.

Fill the base of a steamer with water, bring to the boil and then add the pasta. Arrange the salmon in the steamer top, cover and steam for 8 minutes until the salmon flakes when just pressed with a knife and the pasta is tender with a little bite.

If your steamer isn't very large, cook the pasta in a separate pan or adjust the steamer lid so that some of the steam can escape and the pasta water doesn't boil over.

Drain the pasta, return to the empty pan and stir in the pesto.

Flake the salmon into pieces, discarding any skin and bones, and toss with the lemon juice and a little seasoning.

Add to the pasta and gently toss together.

Heat through if needed.

Spoon into bowls and garnish the top of each with a few extra rocket leaves and a little grated Parmesan.

Serve immediately.

Tips

This is delicious served as it is, or you might also like to add a few fresh peas, tiny mange tout or sliced runner beans with the salmon as it steams.

Traditionally made with basil leaves, rocket adds a slightly peppery taste to the pesto and it is a great way of using up those larger less attractive leaves.

If you don't have quite enough leaves, make up the quantity with basil leaves, parsley or chives, or try it with mizuna instead.