PCOS Friendly Pesto-Walnut Watercress and Cucumber Salad
Peppery watercress, cool cucumber, toasted walnuts, and a bright homemade pesto vinaigrette come together in a salad that feels both refreshing and genuinely satisfying. The dressing is the real star here — blended from fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil, it coats every leaf with herby, citrusy flavor that store-bought dressings simply can't match. Walnuts pull double duty, lending healthy fats and crunch both inside the vinaigrette and scattered on top, which matters when you're eating with blood sugar balance and hormone health in mind. Extra-virgin olive oil and lemon keep things anti-inflammatory and light, while shaved Parmesan adds just enough savory richness to make this feel like a real meal rather than a side thought. The whole thing comes together with a quick toast in a dry skillet and a few pulses of a blender — no complicated technique required. Serve it immediately so the watercress stays crisp and the walnuts hold their satisfying snap.
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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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