Description
A light and refreshing Japanese Watercress Salad featuring tender watercress tossed in a creamy peanut butter dressing with hints of honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and mirin. This quick and easy salad balances crunchy stems and soft leaves, perfect as a healthy side dish or appetizer.
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 cups watercress
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon honey (or pure maple syrup or sugar for a vegan version)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (for boiling water)
Instructions
- Boil Water: Bring a medium-sized pot of water (about 6 cups), salted with 1 tablespoon kosher salt, to a rolling boil to prepare for cooking the watercress stems and leaves.
- Prepare Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the natural peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup/sugar), rice vinegar, soy sauce, and mirin. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth and set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Rinse and Prep Watercress: Thoroughly rinse the watercress under cold water to remove any dirt. Drain well and separate the leaves from the thicker stems for even cooking.
- Cook Watercress: Roughly chop the stems and add them to the boiling water along with the leaves. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the stems become tender but still maintain a soft crunch.
- Drain and Dry: Drain the cooked watercress and immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Gently squeeze out the excess water and pat dry with paper towels to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
- Toss and Serve: Place the dried watercress in a mixing bowl, pour the prepared peanut butter dressing over it, and toss gently until the watercress is evenly coated. Serve immediately as a refreshing side dish.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with pure maple syrup or sugar.
- Be careful not to overcook the watercress to maintain a pleasant crunch.
- Use natural peanut butter without added sugar or salt for a healthier dressing.
- Mirin adds sweetness and depth but can be substituted with a small amount of additional soy sauce and sugar if unavailable.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Japanese
