Paraben Free Watercress Lemon Sauce
Bright, peppery watercress meets fresh lemon in a silky blended sauce that comes together in just a few minutes with nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients. The blender does all the heavy lifting — greens, citrus juice and zest, a small clove of garlic, and a steady stream of extra virgin olive oil emulsify into a vivid, pourable green sauce that looks like it came from a restaurant kitchen. For anyone navigating paraben sensitivities, store-bought condiments and dressings can be a minefield of preservatives and synthetic additives, so making your own from scratch is genuinely the cleanest route. Every single ingredient here is straightforward and unprocessed, which means you know exactly what's going into the bottle — or onto your plate. The optional flat-leaf parsley deepens the herbal note without overwhelming the brightness of the lemon, and a quick taste-and-adjust at the end means you can dial the salt and acidity to exactly where you want it. Drizzle it over grilled fish, roasted vegetables, or a simple grain bowl and it instantly elevates the whole dish.
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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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