20-Minute Watercress Salad (Healthy + Refreshing)
This watercress salad recipe is a nutrition powerhouse! Made with green apple, cucumber, almonds, pecorino, and a lemon vinaigrette dressing, this side salad is light, crisp, and refreshing. Ready in just 20 minutes!
Servings 4
Ingredients
- Approx. 4 cups watercress (or 2 standard bunches)
- 1 large green apple, chopped (I used Granny Smith)
- 1.5 cups cucumber, chopped (approx. 2 Persian cucumbers or 1/2 an English cucumber)
- 1/2 cup almonds, sliced
- 1/2 cup pecorino cheese, freshly grated
Lemon vinaigrette dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 a lemon, juice only
- 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt + pepper, to taste
Instructions
- PREP WATERCRESS: If using watercress still attached to its roots and soil, simply cut near the soil to separate the leaves and stems. Place leaves in a salad spinner and rinse dirt off with cold water. Spin until dry.
- MAKE DRESSING: In a small bowl or jar with a lid, whisk or shake all dressing ingredients together.
- PLATE SALAD: In a large mixing bowl, add watercress, chopped apples, chopped cucumber, sliced almonds, and pecorino cheese.
- ADD DRESSING: Pour dressing overtop and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately!
Notes
*NUMBER OF SERVINGS:
- If this salad is your only side to a protein dish, this recipe as written will make about 2 larger (more entree-style) servings.
- If it's part of an assortment of side dishes, this recipe as written will be good for about 4 people!
- This salad is best enjoyed immediately, but can be kept for up to 1 day in an airtight container in the fridge.
- If making in advance, keep the salad dressing in a separate jar until ready to serve. You may also prefer chopping up the apple immediately before serving, to prevent it from browning!
- If you can't find watercress, the best substitutes would be baby arugula (rocket) or radish sprouts - they have a similar peppery taste to them.
- You may use any type of apple, but I enjoyed this with a green apple as it's a little more tart!
- I used pre-sliced almonds, but you are welcome to chop raw almonds on your own. Otherwise, you may use walnuts instead. For a nut-free option, simply omit or swap with something like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- You may use freshly-grated parmesan in place of pecorino, if preferred.
- If necessary, you may use apple cider vinegar in place of white wine vinegar (although it does have a stronger flavour).
- You may use freshly minced garlic cloves in place of garlic powder if you prefer a more garlicky punch. I'd aim for about 2 cloves!