This recipe reminds me of my time in Sardinia. The vibrant, minty pesto is a perfect foil for the sweet zucchini and currants, and the pecorino adds a distinctive savoury tang.

Spaghettini of zucchini, mint, currants, pine nuts and pecorino

50g mint
40g parsley, blanched & chopped
40g basil leaves
2 small cloves garlic, sliced
60g pine nuts, toasted, plus extra to sprinkle over just before serving
150ml extra virgin olive oil
120g pecorino, grated
Salt flakes and ground black pepper
250g spaghettini
3 medium zucchini, sliced and julienned, in the longest strip possible
80ml milk
2 tbsp currants, simmered in 1tbsp red wine vinegar for 1 minute

1. Roughly chop the mint and the parsley.

2. Process the herbs, garlic, 60 grams of pine nuts and oil together in a food processor or blender until you have a smoothish paste, then add the cheese and a splash of water and blitz briefly again.

3. Season with sea salt and a generous amount of black pepper.

4. Cook the spaghettini for seven to eight minutes. Meanwhile, put the zucchini in the bottom of a large saucepan. Lift the spaghettini out of the water and place it on top of the zucchini. Allow to sit off the heat for 30 seconds, which will allow the zucchini to soften. Add enough of the pesto to coat the pasta completely without drowning it (I usually have about a quarter left over, see tip), toss, then add the milk.

5. Let the pasta bubble over high heat for a minute to combine, add a little extra cheese and a splash of olive oil, if necessary, and toss through.

Check seasoning, sprinkle with the extra pine nuts and currants, and serve.

Serves 4

Tip Keep any leftover pesto in an airtight jar for a week with a thin layer of oil over the top.

- Sydney Morning Herald