Gluten Free Pesto-Walnut Watercress and Cucumber Salad
This salad is a bright, bold celebration of fresh greens and herbaceous flavor — the kind of dish that looks impressive but comes together with minimal effort. Peppery watercress and cool, crisp cucumber slices make a stunning base, while toasted walnut halves add a warm, nutty crunch that takes the whole thing up a notch. The real star is the pesto vinaigrette, blended from fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon, and olive oil — a completely grain-free dressing that delivers all the richness of classic pesto without a single ingredient to second-guess. Shaved Parmesan finishes it off with a salty, savory edge that ties every element together beautifully. Because every component here is naturally free of gluten — no grains, no hidden thickeners, no store-bought shortcuts — this is one of those recipes where eating to a restriction genuinely feels like a treat rather than a compromise. Serve it immediately after tossing so the watercress stays vibrant and the walnuts keep their satisfying crunch.
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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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