Eat Them to Defeat Them: Broccoli & Basil Pea Pasta Sauce recipe

The biggest ever campaign in the UK to get children to eat more vegetables is underway.

The "Eat Them to Defeat Them" adverts will be shown by ITV and other broadcasters over seven weeks.

The aim is to improve youngsters' physical health over the next three years.

Last year the campaign led to more than six hundred and fifty thousand children eating more veg.

If you've got a young family and this sounds like something you'd like to get involved with, here's an easy and delicious pasta sauce recipe with hidden vegetables:

Broccoli & Basil Pea Pasta Sauce (feeds 6)

1 small/medium head of broccoli (use the stalks too)

3 big handfuls of frozen peas

30g fresh basil (keep the stems too)

handful of cashew nuts or seeds or pine nuts

1 small garlic clove

handful of grated parmesan or cheddar plus extra to serve

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

squeeze of lemon juice

sea salt & pepper, to taste

Enough pasta to feed 6

  • Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil. Roughly chop the broccoli and slice the stalks then add the broccoli florets and stalks to the boiling water for 3 minutes along with the garlic clove. After 3 minutes, add the peas for a further minute to defrost.

  • Meanwhile tip the pasta into a medium pan of boiling salted water and get that cooking (check label instructions for the suggested cooking times as varies for pasta type and size and shape).

  • Then back to the first pan, drain the veg and then tip the veg into the blender and add the rest of the ingredients; the olive oil, lemon juice, nuts/seeds, fresh basil (roughly tear), grated cheese and salt and pepper.

  • Put the lid on the blender and then blend until smooth and creamy. Then taste the pesto sauce for seasoning adjusting with more salt and pepper or add a little water if it's too thick.

  • Once the pasta is cooked al dente, drain and then add the pesto to the pan, add enough to coat, you can keep adding more sauce or let everyone help themselves to more. Garnish with extra basil leaves if you like or grated cheese.