Quick and Easy Watercress Salad with Apples

Anytime my salad routine is feeling a little stale, my favorite way to liven things up is by trading in my regular salad greens and grabbing a bunch (or bag) of peppery watercress. It’s the main star in this simple side salad that comes together in a flash and goes with just about everything. Combined with slices of tart green apple, toasted almonds, salty pecorino, and a simple vinaigrette, this watercress salad is an irresistible mix of flavors and textures, and bound to be a new favorite.

If you’re used to greens like romaine or bibb lettuce, know that watercress comes with more punchy flavor. Raw watercress has a distinct peppery taste, and can sometimes be a little spicy or bitter on its own. Usually the more mature a bunch of watercress, the more intense the flavor is likely to be. Here, a simple vinaigrette works to mellow the bite, as do the contrasting sweet and salty ingredients. 

Absolutely! And because it has so much flavor, watercress makes a great candidate for the base of a simple salad. Looking for more ways to eat raw watercress? Try topping it on sandwiches, or adding it to wraps and grain bowls. This straddles the line between raw and cooked, but it’s also a fun addition folded into the center of an omelet.

You’re likely to find watercress in one of two forms (or maybe both) at your grocer: bags or bunches. The benefit of bagged watercress is convenience: It’s already washed and trimmed, so there’s little to no prep required at home. If you’re starting with a bunch of watercress, there’s a little prep work you’ll need to do before making the salad.

To prepare watercress for salad, you’ll first trim off the thick stems. You’ll be left with the leaves and tender stems, which is what you’ll use for the base of the salad. Wash the leaves and tender stems well and dry with a salad spinner or towel. Remove and discard any yellowed, wilty, or spoiled leaves. 

This simple watercress salad makes a wonderful and simple side dish to round out a meal, although you can also bulk it up to serve as a main, which will feed two people. Here are some of our favorite ways to turn watercress salad into a main.

• Top with chicken. Grilled chicken breast, shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even leftovers from the fridge are all fair game here.
• Top with sliced steak. A few slices of steak (any kind will work!) are great for making this salad a meal; the richness of the meat is a nice complement to the peppery greens.
• Add salmon. A cooked salmon fillet or even a few slices of smoked salmon are a good partner to watercress salad. 
• Top with scallops. Buttery seared scallops are also great with watercress. Not only will a few scallops turn this salad into a meal, but it will also feel totally impressive. 
• Mix with farro (or other cooked grains). You’ve got two choices here: You can either serve the watercress salad over a bed of farro or your favorite cooked grains, or toss it all together.