This watercress and roast beef salad could easily become your light dinner or a very luxurious lunch!
This salad is a great way to use up any leftover roast beef!
Would you like to save this recipe?
I am definitely on a salad roll lately and the reason for this roll is twofold, my friends.
I make them because I have to eat them and I keep making new ones because it’s bad enough that the majority of my meals are salad, it would be absolutely unbearable if I had to eat the same one over and over again.
Here is where I think we go wrong: same lettuce, same ranch dressing, same chicken breast. Boring!
There are so many varieties of salad greens available nowadays that actually alter the taste of your salad quite a bit.
Let’s take watercress.
What is so great about watercress?
I have to admit it’s pretty British of me to use it. Apparently, peasants used to eat watercress with bread and it was known as a “poor man’s sandwich”.
Before you start feeling bad for them, let me tell you that watercress is a nutritional jackpot-it’s rich in iron, calcium, iodine, and folic acid, in addition to vitamins A and C.
It has a mild peppery taste that is absolutely delicious in salads and is one of the best pairings for roast beef. If you are watching your weight, do you know that lean roast beef is just as good as chicken breast?
Variety is key here for sure.
I absolutely loved this watercress and roast beef salad, which actually became my dinner.
Winning Combination
The combination of watercress and roast beef livened up by sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy tenderstem broccoli and mildly spicy spring onions dressed with creamy yet zesty horseradish dressing is absolutely matchless.
I was quite apprehensive that the horseradish dressing would become the dominant flavour but was pleasantly surprised that it did exactly what it was supposed to do-pulled all the flavours together without taking the center-stage.
I was so impressed with this unique and tasty dressing that I mixed up a whole jar. That means I have plenty leftover for many more salads!
More Salad Recipes to Try
- Farro Salad
- Korean Carrot Salad
- Winter Salad with Red Cabbage, Kale and Pomegranate
- Festive Red Cabbage Slaw
Watercress and Roast Beef Salad with Creamy Horseradish Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 cups Watercress
- 1 cup broccoli florets I used tenderstem broccoli/broccolini
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes red and yellow, halved
- 3 spring onions sliced
- 4 oz/100 g roast beef cut in strips (I used my own leftover roast beef but deli roast beef could be substituted)
- pumpkins seeds optional
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp creamy horseradish
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 2 tsp This is an affiliate link.Dijon mustard
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
- 4 tbsp Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Toss watercress, broccoli florets, sliced spring onions and cherry tomatoes.
- In a medium bowl combine horseradish, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard and salt with a whisk. Slowly pour in olive oil in a thin steady streamy while whisking the whole time until incorporated.
- Mix in Green yogurt.
- Dress your salad with creamy horseradish dressing and divide among two salad bowl.
- Top with sliced roast beed and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
Goodman Kasorere tjaritje says
Thank you very much for the Recipe añd ingredients every things is great.
vikalinka says
You are very welcome!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Such a fresh and beautiful salad, love the horseradish dressing!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
I love this! I’m such a fan of salads like this, especially once the weather gets warmer (which it finally is!). I also love horseradish. Will be trying this one.
vikalinka says
So glad you are finally getting nicer weather and can now switch to salads and bbqs. Yay!
sue/the view from great island says
So many things I love about this I don’t know where to begin — I love main dish salads, especially with steak or beef like this. And horseradish? One of the best ingredients around, I always keep some in the fridge. AND, watercress is probably my favorite green, so that pretty much means that as far as I’m concerned, this is the perfect salad!
vikalinka says
Oh that is so awesome, Sue! I loved the salad so much and I was really hoping someone else would feel the same! Watercress is a true gem and needs to become more mainstream.