Walnut And Watercress Salad Recipes

WATERCRESS, ROCKET, SWEET PEAR, WALNUT AND PARMESAN SALAD

Steps:

• What a pukka combination, simple and classy. Don't try to make this when you feel like it, make it when you can buy perfect pears, otherwise it will taste naff. For 1 person I normally use around 1/2 a pear, 2 big handfuls of watercress and 2 big handfuls of rocket. If the pear skins are nice I just give them a wash, if not I remove them with a peeler. Then cut them in 1/2 and deseed. It doesn't really matter how you cut them up. Sometimes in big rough chunks, maybe sliced up or even grated. Then place into a bowl with the watercress and rocket. The pepperiness of the leaves works so well with the sweetness of the pear. Drizzle with good extra-virgin olive oil just to coat, a small squeeze of lemon juice (because the pear juice is slightly acidic but very tasty), and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss all this together and serve. Shave over Parmesan or pecornio, crumble your nuts over and tuck in. I love this salad with roasted meat or as a starter on its own.

WATERCRESS, SWEET PEAR, ROCKET, WALNUT AND PARMESAN SALAD

Steps:

• If the skins are nice just give them a wash, if not remove with a peeler. Then cut them in half and deseed. It doesn`t really matter how you cut them up. Sometimes in big rough chunks, maybe sliced up or even grated.
• Then place into the bowl with the watercress and rocket. The pepperiness of the leaves works so well with the sweetness of the pear.
• Drizzle with a good extra virgin olive oil just to coat, a small squeeze of lemon juice (because the pear juice is slightly acidic but very tasty), and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Toss all this together and serve. Shave over some Parmesan or Pecorino, crumble your nuts over.

WATERCRESS SALAD WITH GRILLED ONIONS, PEPPERS AND SPICY CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add cayenne and sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Add walnuts and stir until coated. Continue stirring until walnuts are toasted. Using a slotted spoon, transfer walnuts to foil-lined sheet and cool.
• Whisk walnut oil, vinegar and 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro in a medium bowl until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Prepare barbecue (medium high heat). Combine 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, onion wedges and pepper strips in large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Grill vegetables until tender and blackened in spots. Transfer to large bowl. Add watercress. Toss with dressing. Arrange on platter. Garnish with candied walnuts.

WATERCRESS, PEAR, BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Make the dressing by mixing everything together, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix the watercress and pear slices together and dress with the dressing.
• Arrange on 2 plates, distributing the pear evenly, embed the walnuts and crumble over the blue cheese.
• Relax.

WATERCRESS, WALNUT, AND ROQUEFORT SALAD

Steps:

• Make caramelized walnuts:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In baking pan toast nuts in oven until golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl stir together caramelized-walnuts ingredients and in a small nonstick skillet cook over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar caramelizes and coats nuts. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool. Break walnuts apart.
• Make dressing:
• Mince and mash garlic to a paste with salt and in a bowl whisk with mustard and lemon juice. Add oils in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified and whisk in tarragon and salt and pepper to taste.
• Trim endive and cut into julienne strips. Discard coarse stems from watercress and toss with endive and dressing. Top salad with Roquefort and walnuts.

GREEN BEAN, WATERCRESS AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Cook beans in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Transfer beans to large bowl of ice water to cool. Drain; pat dry. Whisk vinegar, mustard and parsley in small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover beans and vinaigrette separately; chill. Rewhisk before using.) Combine beans, watercress, walnuts and tomatoes in large bowl. Toss with enough vinaigrette to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

WATERCRESS, PEAR AND WALNUT SALAD WITH POPPY SEED DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk vinegar, mustard and honey in small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in oil. Mix in poppy seeds. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Toss watercress and walnuts in large bowl with enough dressing to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Divide salad among 8 plates. Toss pears with 1/4 cup dressing in small bowl. Spoon pears atop salads.