Seed Oil 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 walnuts add a warm, nutty crunch that ties everything together. The real star is the pesto vinaigrette, blended from fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon, and extra-virgin olive oil — every single ingredient is clean and recognizable, with no industrial seed oils anywhere in sight. That matters more than it might seem, because so many store-bought dressings and even restaurant salads quietly rely on canola, soybean, or sunflower oil as their base. Here, the fat comes entirely from whole walnuts and quality olive oil, which means you get genuinely good flavor alongside the peace of mind. Shaved Parmesan finishes the plate with a salty, savory edge that makes this feel like something from a proper bistro. Serve it immediately after tossing so the watercress stays lively and the walnuts keep 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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