Bowl of Watercress Mixed Salad
(click to enlarge)

Watercress Mixed Salad


California

Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
1 #
**
35 min
Most
A fine mixed salad for service as a main dish salad or as a salad course, but not for buffet service - the watercress wilts too quickly.

3-1/2
-------
2-1/2
2-1/2
3
2-1/2
2-1/2
1-1/2
1/2
15
-------
3
3
1/2
2
-------

oz
---
oz
oz
oz
oz
oz
oz


---
T
T
t

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Watercress
-- Salad
Green Beans
Shrimp
Onion, red
Bell Pepper
Pineapple Chunks  
Cheese (1)
Habanero (2)
Mint Leaves
-- Dressing
Sherry Vinegar
Olive Oil ExtV
Salt
Thyme Sprig
--------------

Make   -   (30 min)
  1. Cut WATERCRESS into lengths of about 3 inches, discarding only the very largest stems. Bag in plastic and set aside - it will go in last.
  2. ----- As you cut them, mix all Salad items in a mixing bowl, but NOT including Watercress.
  3. Cut GREEN BEANS diagonally about 1-1/2 inches long. Pour into boiling Water until just tender. Scoop out, drain and cool.
  4. Cut SHRIMP (if very large) in half (crosswise or lengthwise). Smaller shrimp can be left whole. Pour into boiling water used for the beans, just until opaque and the color changes. Drain and cool.
  5. Quarter ONION lengthwise, then slice thin crosswise. Separate all the layers.
  6. Core BELL PEPPER and cut in half crosswise. Slice very thin lengthwise, making strips 1-1/2 to 2 inches.
  7. Stem and core HABANERO. Cut in half lengthwise and slice the amount wanted crosswise as thin as you can, then cut slices into very fine pieces.
  8. Cut CHEESE into sticks about 1-1/2 inches long and a about 1/8 by 1/4 inches on the sides.
  9. Pull MINT LEAVES from stems. Leave whole unless very large, then cut in half.
  10. Strip THYME LEAVES from stems. Discard stems.
  11. Mix all Dressing items In a small jar.
Serving
  1. When ready to serve: Shake up Dressing well and pour over the salad. Tumble to coat everything.
  2. Add Watercress and tumble to coat with Dressing. Oil in the Dressing will fairly quickly wilt the greens in any salad.
NOTES:
  1. Cheese:

      Your choice, any cheese that can be sliced into neat sticks.
  2. Habanero Chili:

      These are commonly available in North America, and are quite hot. This recipe calls for 1/2 of one, and that's fine for me, but if you or you guests are chili adverse, use just 1/4 of one. Other hot chilis can be used, but not using any is for wimps.
  3. Comments:

      I had a bunch of Watercress that needed to be used up. Every Watercress salad recipe I read had at least one important ingredient I didn't have, so I just used stuff I had on hand. The salad was amazingly successful, so I have written it up here.
  4. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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