Sautéed Watercress Recipes

SAUTEED WATERCRESS

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet sauté the garlic in the oil over moderately high heat for 30 seconds, or until it is fragrant, add the watercress, and stir the mixture until it is combined well. Sauté the watercress, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it is just wilted, and season it with salt and pepper.

STIR-FRIED WATERCRESS: A HEALTHY LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLE

Steps:

• Place your wok over medium high heat, and add the oil, spreading it around to coat the surface of the wok.
• Add the ginger, letting it caramelize and infuse the oil. Take care not to let it burn. Add the minced garlic, and give it a stir. Immediately add the watercress (if you wait too long, your garlic could burn). Turn the heat up to high.
• Stir-fry the watercress for 20 seconds to evenly distribute the ginger, garlic and oil. Once mixed, move all of the watercress to the center of the wok in a small pile, and cover the wok.
• After 45 seconds, uncover the wok. There should be plenty of steam at this point. Use a circular stirring motion to drag the pile of watercress and some of the liquid around the sides of the superheated wok. Stirring the watercress against the hottest and driest part of the wok will generate that wok hay flavor. Gather the watercress back in the middle of the wok. To give you an idea of the cooking time, this step should take no more than 20 seconds.
• While you wait for the sides of the wok to reheat, add the white pepper, sugar, salt, sesame oil and MSG, if using. (A quick note on the spices: we list MSG as optional because many people shy away from it, but it's a tasty addition to leafy green vegetables that really gives you that restaurant flavor. Use it per your own tastes and perspectives!)
• Stir-fry the mixture again to mix in the seasonings, once more stirring the watercress and the liquid so it hits the sides of the wok to generate more wok hay.
• Use your wok spatula to scoop the watercress onto a shallow rimmed bowl, making sure to get the remaining liquid, as it's super-infused with garlic, ginger, and those vitamins from the watercress. Serve as a side dish or just with some white rice as a super light vegan meal.

SAUTEED RADISHES AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Trim radishes and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch wedges.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then saute radish wedges with salt, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a platter and keep warm, loosely covered.
• Saute garlic in remaining tablespoon butter in skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add watercress and saute, covered, until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Return radish wedges to skillet to reheat quickly and serve.

SAUTEED WATERCRESS WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet or wok over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant.
• Add watercress and salt; cook, stirring constantly, for about 40 seconds.
• Add 2 tablespoons water and stir. Cover and cook for 25 seconds, or until leaves are wilted.

SAUTEED VEAL CHOPS WITH WATERCRESS SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim stems from the watercress and discard them. Set a few leaves aside for garnishing. Wash watercress leaves and spin them dry.
• Dry veal chops with paper towels. Melt butter in a skillet large enough to hold two chops comfortably and brown them on both sides without burning them. Remove them and set them aside. Keep warm.
• Soften the shallot in the butter and add a couple of tablespoons of water, the watercress leaves and the creme fraiche. Bring the mixture to a boil, scraping up the cooking juices, and return the chops to the pan with the lemon juice. Cover and simmer gently until the chops are cooked to the desired doneness. Season them with salt and pepper.
• Garnish the chops with the remaining watercress leaves and serve.

SAUTEED KOHLRABI AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Peel kohlrabi with a vegetable peeler and cut into 2-inch-long julienne strips. Discard coarse stems from watercress. In a large heavy skillet heat butter and reserved duck fat or additional butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté kohlrabi, stirring, until crisp-tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add lemon juice and sauté kohlrabi, stirring, 1 minute more. Remove skillet from heat and immediately stir in watercress. Season vegetables with salt and pepper.

SAUTEED RADISHES AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Heat butter with oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté radishes with salt and pepper, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes. Add water and cook, covered, until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes, then cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated, 1 to 4 minutes. Add watercress and sauté, stirring, until wilted, about 1 minute.

SAUTéED WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook pine nuts with 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a small bowl.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet, then sauté garlic, coriander, red-pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper over medium-high heat until spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add watercress and sauté, turning with tongs, until wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with pine nuts.

WATERCRESS WITH GARLIC AND SCRAMBLED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add watercress and cook, stirring, until just wilted. Remove from pan and set aside. Lower heat to medium-low.
• Whisk eggs and season with salt and pepper. Pour eggs into pan and cook, stirring, until just set. Return watercress to pan and stir. Serve immediately.

SAUTEED WATERCRESS AND RADICCHIO WITH PEPPER VINEGAR

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the watercress and radicchio and toss to coat with butter. Cover and cook, tossing once or twice, for four to five minutes or until wilted but crisp-tender. Serve hot, letting each guest sprinkle pepper vinegar and salt and pepper over his or her serving.

SCALLOPS WITH SAUTEED WATERCRESS AND GINGER

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add garlic and ginger and cook until garlic is lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1/2 of the watercress and cook until wilted, 1 to 3 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining watercress. Stir in lemon juice and sesame seeds and season with salt and pepper. Wipe skillet clean.
• Pat scallops dry with a paper towel; season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high. Add scallops and cook until browned on one side, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook until opaque throughout, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Serve scallops with watercress.