BHA & BHT Free Watercress Lemon Sauce
Fresh, vibrant, and ready in minutes, this bright green sauce brings a peppery punch from watercress and a clean citrus lift from both lemon juice and zest. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed — leafy greens, olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs — so there are no hidden preservatives like BHA or BHT lurking in the bottle the way they can in store-bought condiments and dressings. That's the quiet genius of making your own sauce from scratch: you know exactly what went in. The technique is simple blender work, finishing with a slow drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to create a silky, emulsified pour that clings beautifully to whatever it touches. Think grilled fish, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, or even a simple piece of crusty bread. The optional parsley adds another layer of herby freshness if you want to lean into the garden-green vibe. It's the kind of sauce that makes everything on the plate taste more alive.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 cups fresh watercress, thick stems removed
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 small clove garlic, roughly chopped
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the watercress, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, water, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Add the parsley, if using.
- 2
Blend on high speed for 30 seconds, until the greens are fully broken down and the mixture is a uniform, bright green purée.
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