Watercress Butter Recipes

WATERCRESS BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
• Mix on high speed for 30 seconds.

BUTTER BEAN SOUP WITH WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Sauté onion and leeks in a heated oil until soft,about 5 minutes,add potatoes.
• Add watercress and stir until wilted,about 3 minutes.
• Add stock and beans and reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Puree soup,season and reheat gently.
• Serve with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of paprika.

ROAST LEG OF LAMB WITH GARLIC & WATERCRESS BUTTER

Steps:

• Remove the lamb from the fridge 1 hr before cooking. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4. Use the tip of a knife to make 20-25 small slits in the lamb, then set aside in a roasting tin. Blitz the watercress, garlic and anchovies in a food processor until smooth, then add the butter and pulse to combine.
• Season the lamb, then spread over half of the butter mixture, pushing into the slits as well. Break the rosemary sprigs into pieces and tuck into the slits. Season, cover with foil and cook for 1 hr 20 mins for medium (a thermometer should read 55C), or 1 hr 40 mins, if you prefer the meat well done. Uncover the lamb halfway through cooking and spread over the remaining butter, then put back in the oven uncovered for the remaining time.
• Meanwhile, blitz the sourdough in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Toss with the oil and parmesan and spread out flat on a baking sheet. Put in the oven underneath the lamb for the last 20 mins of cooking, or until lightly golden and crunchy. Leave the lamb to rest, covered, for 30 mins, then slice and sprinkle over the crumbs.

WATERCRESS SANDWICHES

Steps:

• The Watercress Butter: In a food processor, blend the butter, watercress leaves, lemon juice, black pepper and cayenne pepper until the mixture is very smooth. Let the mixture stand for about 30 minutes at room temperature or chill it, but bring it back to room temperature before using.
• Watercress Sandwiches: Spread each slice of bread with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the watercress butter, and cut 4 rounds from each slice with a 4-cm (11/2 inch) round or fluted cutter.
• Arrange a watercress sprig on half the rounds, leaving a little extending over the edge of each and invert the remaining rounds on top to complete the sandwiches.
• Serve the sandwiches on a tray decorated with the extra watercress sprigs.