Xanthan Gum Free Watercress & Apple Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese

Peppery watercress, crisp apple slices, creamy goat cheese, and golden toasted pumpkin seeds — this salad hits every note you want from a starter or light lunch. The homemade dressing comes together with just apple cider vinegar, honey, sea salt, and olive oil whisked into a clean, naturally emulsified vinaigrette, no thickeners or stabilizers needed. That matters more than you might think, because many store-bought dressings and even some restaurant salads sneak in additives that can be hard to spot on a label. Here, every single ingredient is straightforward and whole, so you know exactly what you're eating. Toasting the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet until they pop adds a satisfying crunch and a subtle nuttiness that ties the whole bowl together. A scatter of fresh thyme at the end is optional but genuinely worth it — it lifts the flavors and makes the whole thing feel a little more special. This is the kind of salad that looks impressive enough for company but comes together with almost no effort.

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