Watercress & Sugar Snap Salad with Warm Sesame-Shallot Vinaigrette

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In this Asian-inspired salad, the peppery flavor of watercress is paired with another emblematic spring vegetable--sugar snap peas. Tossed with a warm dressing made with caramelized onions, rice vinegar and toasted sesame oil, this salad is the perfect antidote to the chill of early spring. For the best-tasting watercress, look for supple, thin stems (not woody stalks) with small, heart-shaped, dark green leaves that have no yellow blemishes.

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Cook Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed (about 2 cups; see Tip)

  • 2 large bunches watercress, woody stems trimmed (4 ounces or 4 loosely packed cups)

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil, or canola oil

  • 4 large shallots, thinly sliced into rings

  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup crumbled hard, aged goat cheese , or Asiago cheese

Directions

  1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add peas and cook until bright green, 30 seconds. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool. Transfer to a large bowl, add watercress and toss to combine.

  2. Heat peanut (or canola) oil in a medium nonstick skillet over low heat; add shallots and cook very slowly, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Stir in vinegar, sesame oil and salt; cook until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Pour the warm dressing over the peas and watercress; toss well. Top with cheese and serve.

Tips

Tip: To remove the stem and strings at the same time from sugar snap peas, hold the stem between your thumb and index finger, snap and pull down.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

181 Calories
14g Fat
7g Carbs
7g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 181
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 7g 14%
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Vitamin A 1945IU 39%
Vitamin C 47mg 53%
Folate 32mcg 8%
Sodium 221mg 10%
Calcium 191mg 15%
Iron 2mg 9%
Magnesium 30mg 7%
Potassium 264mg 6%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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