Carrageenan Free Pesto-Walnut Watercress and Cucumber Salad
Peppery watercress, cool cucumber slices, toasted walnuts, and shaved Parmesan come together in a salad that feels genuinely restaurant-worthy without much effort at all. 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 in bright, herby flavor. Because the dressing is made entirely from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients, you sidestep the processed emulsifiers and additives that sneak into so many bottled dressings and store-bought pestos. Carrageenan, a thickener commonly found in packaged sauces and dairy products, simply has no place here — every component is clean and straightforward. Toasting the walnuts in a dry skillet for a couple of minutes before adding them to the salad is a small step that pays off big, deepening their flavor and adding a satisfying crunch against the tender greens. This is the kind of salad that works as a light lunch on its own or as a stunning side next to grilled fish or chicken. Serve it immediately after tossing so the watercress stays crisp and the vinaigrette stays vibrant.
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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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