Brazil Nut Free Pesto-Walnut Watercress and Cucumber Salad
This salad is a bright, herbaceous showstopper that brings together peppery watercress, cool cucumber slices, toasted walnuts, and shaved Parmesan in a way that feels both elegant and effortless. The real star is the homemade pesto vinaigrette — blitzed together from fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil — which coats every leaf with a punchy, nutty dressing that blows any bottled option out of the water. Toasting the walnut halves in a dry skillet first is a small step that makes a big difference, drawing out a deep, golden flavor that adds serious crunch to every bite. Because the whole recipe relies on straightforward whole ingredients, there's no need to scrutinize labels for hidden additives or worry about cross-contact from the kinds of mixed-nut products that can make store-bought dressings and salad kits a gamble. The lemon zest and optional red pepper flakes give the vinaigrette a little lift and warmth, keeping the flavor profile lively rather than heavy. It comes together quickly and looks stunning on a platter, making it just as fitting for a weeknight dinner as it is for entertaining.
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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
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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