Watercress ranked #1 on the list of “powerhouse fruits and vegetables.” A recent study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention journal classified powerhouse fruits and vegetables as foods with an average of 10% or more daily value per 100 kcal of 17 nutrients, including fiber, potassium, protein, calcium, folate, vitamins B12, A and D.
Watercress can be used in salads, soups, stews, risotto, dips and more! Here’s a summer salad with the powerhouse green!
Sweet Watercress Salad with Orange Vinaigrette Dressing (Oil & Sugar-free!)
The sweet orange vinaigrette counters watercress’ slightly bitter taste, making this salad the perfect side dish for a classy wine party or an afternoon picnic!
Serving Size: 6
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 bunch of watercress
- ½ bag of fresh spinach
- 4 large leaves of iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber (sliced)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Dressing:
- 2 oranges
- 2 tbs apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/8 tsp black pepper (ground)
- 1 tsp flax seed (ground)
Be sure to thoroughly wash all produce before beginning!
Salad Instructions:
1. Cut the cucumber into slices, then cut it into 8 small pieces as if it were a pizza! Cut the cherry tomatoes into small chunks. (Be gentle to avoid squirting!)
2. Slice the iceberg lettuce into long pieces.
3. Pile 4-5 spinach leaves on top of one another. Cut off the stems, and then slice vertically to create long pieces.
4. Separate the watercress into edible pieces.
5. Place the leaves into a large bowl (or in my case, a baking tray) and mix thoroughly.
Dressing Instructions:
1. Cut orange in half and squeeze into a jar (Bonne Maman jam jars work great!)
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, cover the jar and shake well.
3. If you’re ready to serve, dress up your salad with the cucumber and tomato chunks, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and dressing.
Tip: When taking the salad to a picnic or party, separate the leaves, the wet ingredients (cucumber and tomatoes), the dry ingredients (sunflower seeds and dried cranberries) and the dressing into separate containers. Mix it all together seconds before serving for a fresh, no-gush salad!
Enjoy!
