20+ Watercress Recipes to Make This Spring

Creamy Watercress-Cucumber Soup Recipe

Cool, creamy, and loaded with fresh flavor, this is just about the most perfect summer soup we could imagine. Plus, it’s a great no-cook recipe for when the heat of summer hits and you want to keep your kitchen cool. While a large blender helps here, you could certainly prepare the soup in two batches and stir them together at the end. Serve as a light lunch or appetizer with crusty bread—or for a more substantial meal, this chilled watercress-cucumber soup is a delicious partner to our Ultimate Grilled Tomato Sandwich. In order to get sour cream that “swirls” into the soup (instead of sinking to the bottom), you’ll need to thin it out with a bit of water. In a small bowl, simply whisk together a 2-to-1 ratio of sour cream and water, and you’ll be good to go.  

Goat Cheese and Strawberry Grilled Cheese Recipe

Tart, tangy, sweet, and with a bite of crunch, this sandwich has it all. The watercress provides a nice balance to the sweet berries and creamy goat cheese.

Chicken-Watercress Wonton Soup Recipe

Flecked with peppery watercress, these soft chicken dumplings make for a slurpy-good appetizer soup. Be sure to use regular ground chicken (not chicken breast) for the best flavor and texture. For this recipe, you'll be making the nurse's cap dumpling shape.

Orange, Fennel and Watercress Salad Recipe

This fresh Orange, Fennel and Watercress Salad is a tasty and healthy way to round out a meal. Can't find blood oranges? Don't sweat it—regular oranges work just fine in this salad.

Lucky Black-eyed Pea Salad Recipe

Peppery watercress fills in for traditional greens. January is peak season for fresh Chilean peaches—ripen at room temp in a brown paper bag until fragrant and juicy.

Romaine, Asparagus, and Watercress Salad with Shrimp Recipe

Serve with Wheat Rolls with Orange Butter.

Puree of Watercress Soup Recipe

The secret to keeping this soup a beautiful bright green is to add the watercress and parsley in the last step. You could also make this soup with spinach or sorrel instead of watercress.

Watercress Canapés Recipe

Watercress acts as the glue to hold these decadent appetizers together. Blended with the cream cheese mixture, the leaves add a delicate flavor and hint of color.

Halibut with Watercress Pesto Recipe

You can use the coarse watercress stems and any flawed leaves in this peppery pesto. Besides fish, it also complements chicken, sliced cucumbers, and goat cheese.

Smoked Trout and Watercress Tea Sandwiches Recipe

These delicate finger sandwiches are filled with a creamy smoked trout spread accented with lemon zest, capers, and dill. The spicy watercress offsets the salty, smoky trout while the very thin white bread slices keep the focal point on the star attraction.

Roasted Potatoes with Tangy Watercress Sauce Recipe

Add watercress, basil, and mint to a yogurt base for a fragrant, fresh-tasting sauce you can make up to 2 days ahead. Serve this versatile dish alongside chicken, beef, or lamb. You can also use the sauce as a dip for vegetables.

Ham-and-Cheese Skewers Recipe

Thread blue cheese wedges, apple slices, cubes of deli ham, and fresh watercress leaves onto wooden skewers for a super fast, super easy appetizer. 

Seared Beef Tenderloin Mini Sandwiches with Mustard-Horseradish Sauce Recipe

Watercress provides a perfect platform for the reich beef-and-cheese topper to this open-faced sandwich.

Chicken Salad Pitas Recipe

A bunch of watercress adds a welcome crunch to this creamy chicken salad recipe. When served on a platter, these pint-sized pita pockets are almost too cute to enjoy.

Roast Beef Sandwiches with Watercress Slaw Recipe

Start with deli roast beef  and a package of angel hair slaw to create a hearty roast beef sandwich that's perfect for a quick no-cook dinner.

Beef, Watercress, and Peach Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Recipe

Crisp watercress plays nicely with savory beef, sweet peaches, and the tart vinaigrette on this main dish salad recipe.

Steamed Cod With Watercress-Orange Sauce Recipe

This recipe works with various fish: Try delicate flatfish like sole, flounder, and dab; flaky whitefish like cod, sablefish, and Pacific rockfish; or even fish high in omega-3 fats like salmon. Feel free to play with the aromatics in the steaming liquid, but avoid using sulfurous vegetables like cabbage or broccoli; their strong flavors can overpower the broth. And don’t use carrots or potatoes—they don’t add any aromatic flavor and are best saved for another purpose.

Broccoli, Orange, and Watercress Salad Recipe

To save time, steam broccoli ahead; cover and chill. Section the oranges ahead, too.

Turkey Panini with Watercress and Citrus Aioli Recipe

Take your average turkey sandwich to the next level with a citrusy spread and a few minutes on the panini press.

Roast Beef Sandwiches with Watercress Slaw Recipe

Start with deli roast beef  and a package of angel hair slaw to create a hearty roast beef sandwich that's perfect for a quick no-cook dinner.

Watercress, Prosciutto, and Goat Cheese Linguine Recipe

A quick yet filling pasta dish will leave you begging for more!

Beet, Farro, and Watercress Salad with Fig Vinaigrette Recipe

This salad is simply chock-full of all kinds of good stuff--sweet, tender beets; the crisp snap of zucchini; fennel's anise crunch; and chewy-tender farro. You can make it up to two days ahead; just leave out the watercress until shortly before serving.

Wine-Glazed Sausages with Watercress Potatoes and Sauerkraut Recipe

This recipe works with just about any kind of sausage (except super-spicy ones, which would be overpowering alongside the tangy sauerkraut). It's fine without the wine too: the sausages won't be as shiny, but they'll still taste good.

Citrus Watercress Salad with Vanilla Bean Vinaigrette Recipe

Look for brightly colored cara cara and blood oranges, which are available this time of year.