They’re packed with nutrition and delightful flavors you won’t expect from an underrated green leafy plant! If you’re not familiar with watercress, it’s a water-loving plant with a note of peppery taste, which serves as a perfect base for endless flavor combinations. So if you want to add a fresh, healthy twist to your regular dinner rotation, read on. These delicious 25 watercress recipes should be a staple in your kitchen!
1. Stir-Fried Watercress
Are you in the mood for some super-healthy greens? Try this stir-fried watercress recipe to add a nutritious and delicious twist to your regular dinner rotation. The first step to making this dish is all about getting the flavor right by caramelizing the ginger adding minced garlic to make the dish pop. As with most stir-fries, the key is having all your ingredients ready before you start cooking, so they’ll come together quickly.
2. Japanese Watercress Salad
Who would’ve thought that peanut butter and maple syrup go well with the bold flavor of green, leafy vegetables? Pair the crunchy, peppery flavor of watercress with something sweet and nutty with this Japanese watercress salad recipe! You can make this salad in under 15 minutes with just a few steps! Combine your salad dressing ingredients, boil the watercress, pat it dry, and toss it in the salad bowl to coat with flavors.
3. Chinese Watercress Soup with Pork Ribs (Sai Yeung Choy Tong)
Cold days call for a heartwarming soup packed with nutritious ingredients. With the meaty taste of pork combined with the fresh flavors of watercress, this recipe will surely be a staple on your dinner rotation when the temperature drops!
4. Watercress Pesto: Vibrant Green Sauce or Spread
Ah, springtime! Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, which calls for a serious comeback for pesto. Don’t be afraid to break out of your usual pesto routine. Watercress is the new green to change the regular pesto recipe! This watercress pesto has a fresh, peppery bite to it with a beautiful green color that is vibrant and uplifting. Just like any other pesto sauce, this recipe can be the perfect spread for sandwiches, pasta sauce, salad, or even add to a soup to add a twist to the broth.
5. Watercress Sauce
Watercress has a distinct peppery flavor that can be overpowering for some, but it takes on a whole new dimension when mixed with lemon and fresh cream! This three-ingredient sauce recipe is ready in 10 minutes. Just chop the watercress, add the zest and juice of lemon, combine the fresh cream, and blend until you get the desired consistency. You can pair this sauce with seafood, meat dishes, or other vegetables to level up your regular meals.
6. Tropical Watercress Smoothie
Watercress is not your typical smoothie addition for its quite intense flavor, but this smoothie recipe will change your mind! Watercress is a leafy green vegetable with a distinct flavor and a little heat, so it doesn’t blend into the background in this tropical smoothie like other milder greens might. But this is a good thing! The watercress adds just a little twist to the smoothie, which is needed to balance out the sweet fruit flavors.
7. Green Watercress Omelet
Brighten up your regular omelet recipe with a nutritious addition of watercress and other herbs. This omelet recipe is perfect if you want something easy to make but is very tasty and healthy, as it’s ready in just 5 minutes! A bite of this omelet is bursting with fresh flavors from the combination of watercress, eggs, and cream.
8. Watercress Steamed Meatballs
There’s a whole other side to this tasty, healthy vegetable, one that you can bring out by pairing it with the hearty, savory beef! This recipe uses the same technique as making regular Chinese meatballs, but these watercress steamed meatballs are light and flavorful. They’re a great way to bring some healthy greens into your diet without leaving out beef’s essential protein and minerals.
9. Watercress Pesto Pizza with Blue Cheese and Balsamic Glaze
There are so many reasons to make this watercress pesto pizza. It looks great, it’s really easy, and it tastes even better than it seems. It’s spring and summer on a slice of pie. It has all the classic elements of great pizza: the crusty dough and tangy cheese, but the watercress adds a fresh, peppery bite to this pizza recipe. You can make this pizza in under an hour which is perfect if you want to serve something fancy on a special day!
10. Watercress Salad with Avocado, Orange, and Chia Seeds
This zesty watercress salad is so fresh-tasting and light, you’ll think you’re eating something that came straight from a gourmet restaurant. Dried cranberries and orange segments add sweetness and depth to this crunchy, antioxidant-rich salad. At the same time, the healthy fats from avocado and chia seeds make this salad extra hearty and filling. It’s great as a side dish or used as a stand-alone meal if you’re trying to watch your waistline.
11. Watercress Wonton Soup
If you’re still hung up on winter food and want to shake off the chill, this is the recipe for you! A steaming bowl of this hearty watercress wonton soup captures the authentic Chinese cuisine in your kitchen. Preparing the wonton may take a few steps, but the process can be relaxing, and you can make a big batch to save for later if you’re in the mood for a heartwarming soup!
12. Simple Watercress Salad With Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette
This zesty watercress salad is an easy way to add a fresh-tasting side to a protein meal that’ll be a staple in your kitchen. The highlight of this recipe is the zingy lemon-dijon vinaigrette that cuts through the rich flavors of other food pairings.
13. Leek and Potato Soup with Watercress
Whether you’re in the mood for a warming winter recipe or just craving something to change up your lunch, this green-hued leek and potato soup perfectly fits the bill. The mildness of the leeks comes out more when they’re cooked for this soup, and it’s balanced by the peppery green watercress that tops off each hot bowl. It’s a simple, colorful dish that packs a ton of flavor and nutrition!
14. Pink Grapefruit and Watercress Salad
This pink grapefruit and watercress salad is a mix of contrasts. Sweet and spicy, bitter and tangy. Crunchy and soft. It’s the perfect combination of textures, flavors, and colors, and it’s like a fireworks show in your mouth! This is a great salad to make if you want to add something to your diet that’s healthful without being bland.
15. Sauteed Watercress with Garlic
The garlicky, peppery taste of this sauteed watercress side dish balances the flavors of any meat dish. What makes this recipe special is the flavors that beautifully meld together with just a few ingredients and quick cook time.
16. Zucchini Watercress Soup
Have you wanted to make a hearty, creamy bowl of soup to kick off spring? This zucchini-watercress recipe is a hit in our family for its healthy, flavorful taste. This soup’s fresh and vibrant flavors can be made in just a few steps but with lots of love!
17. Tomato, Red Onion, Watercress, Feta, and Olive Salad
If you’re looking for something bright and tastes gourmet but is easy to make, this salad recipe is a must-try. The combination of fresh flavors in this salad is like summer in your mouth, brimming with juiciness, hearty flavors, and a zing of spice. You’ll want to make this all the time!
18. Apple, Pear, Almond, and Watercress Salad
One of the best things about watercress is that it adds a delicious punch to any dish. Watercress is a must-have ingredient for its delicate and nuanced flavors to the bracing crunch. One of our favorite ways to enjoy watercress is in this apple and pear salad with almonds. The crunchy toppings are tossed with sweet fruit and mixed greens for a combination of textures and flavors that will make your tastebuds sing.
19. Hamburger Watercress Recipe
Hamburger watercress is a classic Hawaiian comfort food. It’s one of the most delicious things ever, and it’s super easy to make. The base of the dish is always ground beef paired with the fresh flavors of watercress and the filling tofu. Your guests will surely keep on coming back for more!
20. Vietnamese Meatball and Watercress Soup
There’s nothing like a steaming hot bowl of soup on a chilly winter day. And this Vietnamese meatball and watercress soup is a soup that you’ll want to make over and over again. The meatballs are tender, thanks to the ground pork with scallions and fresh ginger that goes into them. And did I mention they’re served in a zesty broth? The green watercress balance all the flavors out. If you’re looking for something light, flavorful, and fun to make tonight—this is it!
21. Pork Watercress Soup
This soup is so good and so easy to make! It’ll be on your table in less than 30 minutes, and you’ll be SO glad you made it. Thanks to the watercress, the broth is super-flavorful when paired with the garlicky meat flavor and umami-packed mushrooms.
22. Chinese Watercress Soup with Honey Dates
If you’re feeling a bit sick, this Chinese watercress and honey date soup is the perfect dish filled with nutritional, medicinal properties to help you recover. This soup is the perfect comfort food on days you want something warm and hearty to uplift your mood.
23. Watercress and Forbidden Rice Salad with Ginger Vinaigrette
This salad bursts with color, flavor, and texture paired with forbidden rice and edamame for a light, healthy meal. It has that classic Asian flair, with the ginger vinaigrette that brings out the refreshing flavors of the salad.
24. Peach and Cherry Watercress Salad
If you’re craving for the taste of summer, but you don’t know which food perfectly captures the vibrant flavors of the season, this peach and cherry watercress salad is a must-try! There are tart cherries with sweet peaches and the fresh crunch of watercress for a refreshing snack that you can make in just 5 minutes.
25. Watercress Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
Feel like royalty with this quintessential and classic type of finger sandwich recipe. This fancy finger snack features fresh, savory flavors in one bite that’ll surely be a hit at your next tea party with friends! Click on a star to rate it!
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