Beef Free Pesto-Walnut Watercress and Cucumber Salad
This vibrant salad is a study in fresh, bold flavors — peppery watercress, cool cucumber ribbons, toasted walnuts, and shaved Parmesan all brought together by a silky homemade pesto vinaigrette. The dressing is the real star: blended basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil create something far more interesting than a standard vinaigrette, with a nutty richness that clings beautifully to every leaf. Toasting the walnuts in a dry skillet before scattering them over the top adds a warm, golden crunch that makes each bite feel intentional. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of any animal protein beyond the Parmesan, so there's nothing to swap or work around — it just comes together cleanly. It's the kind of salad that feels elegant enough for a dinner party but simple enough to pull off on a weeknight without much fuss. Serve it immediately after tossing so the watercress stays bright and the textures stay lively.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- ½ cup raw walnut halves
- 5 oz watercress, thick stems trimmed
- 1 english cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 oz parmesan, shaved
Chef's tipChoose a vegan parmesan in the form the recipe uses - grated for sprinkling and sauces, a firm wedge for shaving or melting.
For the pesto vinaigrette
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup raw walnut halves
- 1 small garlic clove
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the ½ cup raw walnut halves (for the salad) and toast, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden, about 2–3 minutes. Watch closely, as they can brown quickly. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
- 2
In a small food processor or blender, combine the basil, ¼ cup raw walnuts (for the vinaigrette), garlic clove, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and uniform.
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