In today’s health community there is a TON of hype surrounding kale and its benefits. Obviously, this is for good reason. Kale is a nutrient-packed super-food that can be used in a number of ways including: juicing, smoothies, cooked, and even in salads.
However, that is not the green we will be talking about today. While kale is undoubtedly an amazing plant, there is another green that may just be even better for you than kale. I’m talking about watercress.
Native to Asia and Europe, watercress is by no means a new crop. It has been popular in the United Kingdom for quite some time and is starting to gain traction in some of the Western countries. Watercress is an aquatic plant (if that wasn’t already obvious from its name) and is best grown using hydroponics systems.
Benefits of Watercress
So what makes watercress so amazing? It’s jam packed with iron, calcium, iodine, manganese, and folic acid, as well as vitamin A, B, C, and K. It should also be mentioned that it contains a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Watercress has earned a reputation as a “healing herb” dating back to the 1700’s. It has been proven to contain more iron than spinach, more calcium than milk, and more vitamin C than oranges. All of this is packed into a little green plant resembling a weed.
Let’s not forget that watercress is also super low in calories. So, feel free to munch on this all day!
How to Eat Watercress
Now that we got the boring stuff out of the way, let’s talk about how we can actually enjoy watercress. My favorite way to eat it is in salads. The sky is the limit when it comes to salads. Throwing in some nuts, seeds and fruit into your salad will result in a super-food salad.
Here is one of my very favorite watercress recipes:
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Ingredients:
- 2 cups watercress, remove stems
- 2 cups arugula
- ½ apple, unpeeled, cored, thinly sliced
- ½ cup pitted dates, sliced
- ¼ cup pecans
- Tsp of apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- Crumbled goat cheese (however much you want)
All you have to do is combine ingredients and enjoy!
Adding watercress into a salad isn’t the only way to eat it. You also have the option of sautéing and steaming, just like any other green. Just be sure to remove the stems for a more enjoyable experience.
You shouldn’t have a problem finding watercress at most local supermarkets. Next time you see it, be sure to give it a try and share your favorite way to enjoy it with friends and family! As with other greens, make sure you wash it before eating. Enjoy!
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What’s your favorite way to prepare watercress?
I just like mine in salads!
That’s usually what I do! I just toss it in (along with everything else in my fridge)!