Xanthan Gum Free Pesto-Walnut Watercress and Cucumber Salad
Peppery watercress, cool cucumber, 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 pesto vinaigrette — blitzed together from fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, lemon, and good olive oil, it's bright, herby, and a little nutty in the best possible way. Because the dressing is made entirely from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients, there's no need to scrutinize store-bought labels for hidden additives or thickeners that can sneak into bottled dressings. Everything here is naturally clean and straightforward. Toasting the walnuts in a dry skillet before adding them to the salad is a small step that pays off big — it deepens their flavor and gives the whole dish a satisfying crunch. Toss it all together right before serving so the watercress stays lively and the cucumber keeps its crisp bite. It's the kind of salad that makes you actually look forward to eating your greens.
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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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