Happy weekend, hope the sun is shining in your part of the world. Ours is, as usual, a bit of a mixed bag. The weather is very underwhelming given that we’ve just traversed into June.

Now that it’s summer and everyone is relaxing a bit more, I’m making an effort to take some more time off for myself too. With this in mind, I made a simple, quick, healthy and delicious pasta recipe that will allow you to smuggle more green cruciferous vegetables into your meals without much pain or effort.

I am personally a massive broccoli fan and since I am in charge of practically all meals in my house, we tend to eat it 3-4 times a week at least. Duncan is on board so it’s all good. I will typically steam it or stir-fry it and add into tofu bowls or bake it in the oven to add to salads and pastas, but if you are not a fan, perhaps this recipe might convert you.

You first steam your broccoli lightly, then place it in a food processor together with toasted pine nuts, a handful of basil, fragrant lemon zest, lemon juice, a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast, salt and pepper and a good glug of olive oil and process until everything is finely chopped and the flavour is well balanced.

You then use a generous amount of pasta cooking water to thin the sauce and make it cling to your pasta better. I also like to stir some finely chopped capers through the dish for extra pops of flavour and I serve it with a dusting of fried breadcrumbs for some extra texture but both of these are optional extras. We really enjoy this simple midweek pasta – it’s both delicious and nutritious and really easy to make too – and I hope you will too.

Steam your broccoli florets until just cooked over the pot of water you’ll boil your pasta in later to minimise washing up.

While the pasta is simmering away, pop steamed broccoli florets into a food processor. Give them a bit of a head start, then add all of the flavour building ingredients – pine nuts, basil leaves, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic and nutritional yeast – and whizz it all up once more.

Finally, season to taste and add a glug of olive oil. Stir through some warm pasta and enjoy. Add chopped capers and fried breadcrumbs to take it to the next level.