Xanthan Gum Free Watercress Lemon Sauce

Total time10 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time0 min

Bright, peppery watercress meets fresh lemon in a vibrant green sauce that comes together in just a few minutes of blending. The olive oil gets streamed in while the blender runs, creating a naturally smooth, emulsified texture without any added thickeners or stabilizers — which means it's completely free of xanthan gum and anything like it. Many store-bought sauces and dressings sneak in gums to achieve that silky consistency, but here the emulsification happens the old-fashioned way, through technique alone. A small clove of garlic and optional flat-leaf parsley round out the flavor, giving the sauce real depth without complicating the ingredient list. The result is a pourable, spoonable condiment that's as gorgeous as it is versatile — drizzle it over grilled fish, roasted vegetables, or a simple grain bowl and it instantly elevates the whole plate. If you want a looser consistency, a splash of extra water blended in at the end gets you exactly where you need to be.

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Ingredients

4 servings

2 cups fresh watercress, thick stems removed
Watercress O Organics Organic Living Watercress - Each Fresh Watercress, Each Olivia's Garden Live Watercress Shenandoa Watercress
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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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