12 Terrific ways to use watercress

1. Make a delicious watercress pesto

2. Stir chopped watercress into hot pasta with plenty of grated parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil

3. Use it to fill a classic omelette with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese or stir into softly scrambled eggs just before serving

4. To make a delicious simple salad, drain a can of cannellini beans and tuna, chop up half a cucumber and three tomatoes and mix together. Drizzle over some good vinaigrette and then toss with a bag of watercress

5. If you are fed up with plain old mashed potato, for an extra injection of flavour, add a few peeled cloves of garlic to the potatoes while they boil. Drain and mash with a knob of butter and a tablespoonful or two of wholegrain mustard, then stir through a bag of roughly chopped watercress. Season with plenty of ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Great with sausages or most meat dishes

6. Fold chopped watercress into cottage cheese or ricotta and use as a filling for baked potatoes

7. For a tasty lunch, cut a small ciabatta loaf lengthways. Pile with creamy Cashel Blue, Crozier Blue or Gorgonzola and slices of pear and grill until just bubbling. Scatter with a large handful of watercress and sprinkle with black pepper

8. Watercress perks up any sandwich, adding flavour and crunch. A favourite combination with marmite, or try smoked salmon topped with a mixture of crème fraiche and horseradish

9. Watercress is a staple food among the Chinese, who believe it brings the body back into balance, both nutritionally and holistically. It's a particular favourite in stir fries, thrown in at the last minute and cooked until just wilted

10. Watercress mayonnaise is delicious served cold with poached salmon, asparagus or simply as a dip

11. For a variation on salsa verde, blitz a bag of watercress, a handful of basil leaves, 1 clove of garlic, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a food processor until just smooth. Season and serve – tastes great with chargrilled tuna

12. Finally, one of my favourite ways to eat watercress – so simple. Serve a roast on a bed of watercress on the serving dish. It is truly delicious combined with the meat juices and some crusty roast potatoes.