Pesto Mussels & Toast

Put a large pan on a medium-high heat, and toast the bread as the pan heats up, turning when golden.

Trim and finely slice the courgettes, and halve the cherry tomatoes.

Check the mussels – if any are open, just give them a little tap and they should close; if they don’t they’re no good, so chuck those ones away.

Remove the toast and spread one quarter of the pesto on each slice. You can find a recipe for Jamie Oliver´s Super-quick batch pesto, if you’d like to have a go at making your own.

Turn the heat under the pan up to full whack and tip in the mussels. Stir in the remaining pesto, the courgettes, tomatoes

and peas.
Add the wine (if using), or a good splash of water. Cover with a lid and leave to steam for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.

When all the mussels have opened and are soft and juicy, they’re ready. Divide the mussels, veg and all those gorgeous juices between two large bowls, pick over the basil leaves and serve with the pesto toasts on the side for some epic dunking.