As a small food blogger I am proud to have been chosen as an ambassador for watercress by The Watercress Company, since starting this journey I am pleased to say my love of watercress has only increased. Each week I am excited to see how I can include this superfood into our diet.
My favourite recipe so far has to be the juice master's (Jason Vale) ultimate health booster smoothie having started juicing earlier in the year I was keen to see how I could incorporate watercress into this regime, there seems to be plenty of advocates shouting about using spinach/kale but this green also packs a punch when it comes to its nutrient density.
I know from my juicing detox last winter that I don't drink anywhere near enough water so blitzing all these healthy raw fruit and veg has got to have a positive impact on my health.
As a menopausal woman (I know, I don't look old enough) I have found that my skin feels dry and crepey, so learning that watercress can reduce skin ageing was also a benefit to eating this peppery green, apparently it suppresses the breakdown of Collagen and Elastin and also increases the production of Collagen. All good to stave off the wrinkles. I'll keep you posted on the results in due course.
Try this
Ingredients
1 inch slice pineapple
1 apple
1 inch chunk broccoli
1 small handful of spinach
1/2 stick of celery
1/4 inch piece of ginger
1 handful of watercress
The next recipe I tried was a cleansing watercress and citrus salad with a turmeric dressing all full of anti-oxidants so energising and cleansing at the same time. I did cheat and add some cooked chicken but it really wasn't necessary it is absolutely delicious without.
Try this
Ingredients
1 orange - zested
2 ounces of watercress (I probably used a lot more)
1 ripe advocado
a few slices of thinly sliced red onion
Dressing
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp orange zest
2 tsp honey
1 tsp grated tumeric
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Raw ways to eat Watercress that have become firm favourites in our house are with steak and potatoes and tomatoes or in a bacon sandwich with a generous topping of the wasabi mayonnaise.
My absolute favourite recipe for watercress apart from the smoothie is watercress and pea soup, its so deliciously green you just know its doing you good. With the weather getting a bit more Autumnal we naturally turn to a hot soup to warm us up, but honestly I've have even been eating mine cold, maybe thats weird?
Here is the recipe I've been following
Ingredients
2tbsp Olive Oil
1 Large Onion
1 Garlic clove
1 large floury potato, cubed
1.5 litres of chicken stock
900g frozen peas
100g watercress
70g finely sliced pancetta
Method
Heat the oil and butter in a large pan, add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 5 minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the potato and toss with the onion and garlic, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes, until the potato is tender.
Add the frozen peas and simmer for 3 minutes. Add the watercress and stir in until wilted. Remove from the heat, cool for a few minutes then blend with a hand held blender, until smooth.
Meanwhile grill the pancetta until crisp. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Then break up into pieces.
Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with the pancetta pieces.
By the way, last week @lovewatercress sent me a hair conditioning mask made by Lush, as I was going to an interview on Monday I thought I would give it a try - my goodness it definitely sorts out those frizzy ends and made my hair smell incredible. Lush is another local company and the ingredients list reads like something off a menu! Obviously it includes watercress!
Read more about my visit to Lush Bournemouth soon.
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