Spice Free Watercress & Apple Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese
Peppery watercress, crisp apple slices, creamy goat cheese, and golden toasted pumpkin seeds come together in a salad that feels both refreshing and satisfying. The homemade dressing is a simple blend of apple cider vinegar, honey, sea salt, and olive oil — nothing hidden, nothing complicated, just clean and bright flavor. For anyone navigating a spice-free lifestyle, this kind of recipe is a genuine find, because so many dressings and packaged salad kits sneak in black pepper, chili, or mixed seasoning blends. Here, every ingredient is straightforward and easy to verify, so you can toss it together with total confidence. Toasting the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet until they pop and turn golden adds a nutty crunch that makes the whole bowl feel a little more special. A scatter of fresh thyme leaves at the end is optional but adds a lovely herbal note without crossing into spice territory. This is the kind of salad that looks impressive enough for guests but comes together in just a few easy steps.
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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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