Orecchiette with watercress purée, bergamot and mussels

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This flavoursome pasta dish from Lorenzo Cogo is not only visually appealing with its bright green hue, but is a healthy option to serve as it is dairy-free and low on saturated fats. Buy the mussels on the day you are making the dish for maximum freshness.

First published in 2016

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Orecchiette

Watercress purée

  • 500g of watercress
  • olive oil
  • salt

Bergamot purée

  • 1 bergamot, segmented

Mussels

  • 40 mussels, approximately 1kg
  • 30ml of olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

Garnish

  • chilli powder
  • parsley
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt flakes

Method

1
First, make the watercress purée. Wash the watercress well and blanch in salted boiling water
  • 500g of watercress
  • salt
2
Blend until smooth and make an emulsion with a touch of olive oil. Season with salt to taste
  • olive oil
3
To make the bergamot purée, blanch the segments in boiling water for 3–4 minutes and then refresh in iced water. Blitz in a blender to make a smooth paste
  • 1 bergamot, segmented
4
For the mussels, heat the olive oil and garlic in a large saucepan and as soon as they are hot, add the mussels and cover with a lid. As soon as they open, remove from the heat and remove the meat from the shells. Chop the meat and set aside
  • 30ml of olive oil
  • 40 mussels, approximately 1kg
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
5
Pass the liquid that was released from the mussels through a fine sieve and set aside
6
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water for approximately 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain when ready
7
Place the pasta in a large bowl and toss through the watercress purée, adding some of the reserved mussel water if needed. Sprinkle in a pinch of chilli powder
  • chilli powder
8
On the bottom of each plate, place a touch of bergamot purée then add the pasta. Add a handful of mussels and parsley and finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and salt flakes
  • parsley
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt flakes
First published in 2016

At just thirty-one years old, Lorenzo Cogo is the youngest Michelin-starred chef-owner in Italy. His creative, instinctive way of cooking has made him one of the most exciting figures in modern Italian cuisine.

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