MSG Free Watercress & Apple Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese
Peppery watercress, crisp apple slices, tangy goat cheese, and golden toasted pumpkin seeds come together in a salad that feels both elegant and effortless. The homemade dressing — just apple cider vinegar, honey, sea salt, and olive oil — is whisked together in minutes and brings a bright, balanced acidity that ties every element together. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, which means there's no need to scrutinize labels for hidden additives or flavor enhancers that can sneak into bottled dressings and packaged salad kits. Toasting the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet until they pop and turn golden adds a satisfying crunch and a subtle nuttiness that makes this feel like so much more than a simple side. The combination of sweet Honeycrisp or Fuji apple against the slightly bitter greens is genuinely craveable, and the creamy crumbles of fresh goat cheese round it all out beautifully. A scatter of fresh thyme leaves at the end is optional, but it adds a lovely herbal note that takes the whole bowl up a notch.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 5 oz fresh watercress, thick stems trimmed
- 2 medium crisp apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), cored and thinly sliced
- 3 oz fresh goat cheese, crumbled
- 3 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Toast the pumpkin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they begin to pop and turn golden, about 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool completely.
- 2
Whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, and fine sea salt in a small bowl until the honey dissolves. Drizzle in the olive oil in a thin, steady stream while whisking continuously until the dressing is emulsified and slightly thickened.
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