🥗 7 Salads built around one star ingredient (including a new Watercress salad)


Hey there,

I love to highlight ingredients that often get overlooked or, at least, don't quite get the respect they deserve. So this week I'm sharing salads that are built around a single star ingredient, and the rest of the recipe exists to make it shine.

NEW This Week: Watercress Salad Toasted walnuts, ripe pear, gorgonzola and a tangy maple vinaigrette. Ready in 15 minutes

More salads built around one standout ingredient:

  • Celery Salad (tender celery, golden raisins, nuts and cheese tossed in a bright Dijon citrus dressing, just the right balance of crunch, savory and sweet)
  • Arugula Salad (a dab of honey takes the edge off the lemon dressing while the peppery arugula does its thing; shaved parmesan and pine nuts round everything out)
  • Radicchio Salad (paired with sweet pear and butter lettuce, the pleasant bitterness is welcome; gorgonzola and pecans don't hurt either)
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad (82 calories per generous serving: thin crisp slices in a creamy dressing with fresh dill, chives and lemon juice, refreshing on its own and exactly what you want next to something rich)
  • Little Gem Salad (crisp, tender leaves that need very little, just a Champagne Vinaigrette and some chopped walnuts and you're done)
  • Bibb Lettuce Salad (delicate buttery leaves, a sharp Parmesan Vinaigrette, toasted walnuts, simple and somehow a little refined)

💡 Pro Tip: Watercress leaves are delicate. Be gentle, but take your time drying them thoroughly before dressing. Wet leaves weigh the salad down and dilute the vinaigrette.

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All my best,

NEW Watercress Salad


Celery Salad


Arugula Salad


Creamy Cucumber Salad


Radicchio Salad


Little Gem Salad


Bibb Lettuce Salad


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Pinch and Swirl

The best meals don’t come from restaurant kitchens. They come from home cooks like you who take simple ingredients and turn them into something worth sharing. My specialty is making global cooking approachable, from beloved American classics to exciting international flavors. I create recipes that make it simple to cook memorable, restaurant-quality dishes, so you can feel confident and inspired in your own kitchen.

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