Rocket (arugula) and Watercress (kardamon) Salad

Watercress, in Greek called "kardamon = κάρδαμον", (Nasturtium officinale), is an acquatic plant which is usually used in salads or to make soup.

I am going to keep this post short. I just broke my promise to myself not to post more than two posts a week as I was planning to post one for another friend’s event by the end of this week but I still have time for that one.

However, on a visit to my friends' sites earlier, I visited Laurie, of Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska and who is one of the first friends I made when I began blogging. Laurie is the host of this week’s Weekend Herb Blogging, created by Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen and if you have not yet visited Laurie's blog, you still have time to submit your recipe and "taste" her delicious Mediterranean dishes.

Yesterday I had some business to attend to in another municipality of Athens and in the street the building was, there was a Farmers’ Market going on. I am not going to whine about happene but I eid go through an ordeal!

When I finished, I could not resist buying a few things such as strawberries and rocket (arugula).  When I paid for the rocket I noticed that he was selling kardamo (watercress)  Nasturtium officinale.

That intrigued me as I had never seen this herb before and asked the man how this could be eaten. He told me that I could make a salad, just the same I would use rocket (arugula).

I paid for it and when I was about to leave he added “You give some of this to your husband to eat and you will not regret it. Better than Viagra". I assured him (smiling) that my husband did not need it and I could see some people giggling with the joke and left”.

When I returned home, it was quite late and I had to grill Some Greek mpiftekia (burgers) I had prepared before leaving in the morning and I wanted to make some salad. I made a quick google search for "watercress and rocket" but I could not find anything with fresh watercress. I checked what else I had at home. I had spring onions, parsley, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and lettuce.

I decided to use the cherry tomatoes and the spring onions. I washed all the vegetables and let them dry. When I prepared the salad and added the vinaigrette I tasted it to see what it was like. If you think that rocket has a peppery and tart taste then watercress has an even more peppery, tart and bitter taste and imagine both these greens together.

I looked for something sweet to add but the only thing I found in my closet was a packet with four leftover dried figs and some walnuts. I added them to the salad and although the cherry tomatoes and the figs balanced the taste, it still needed something more.  

I remembered seeing strawberries in other salads so I added a few strawberries in my plate and that gave the perfect balance. I think it was exactly what it needed.Although I heard a few jokes from my daughter, like "salad and dessert together" my son and husband tried it and they loved it. (Now don't ask me about the after effects).

Rocket (arugula) and Watercress Salad

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of rocket
• 2 cups of fresh watercress
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 8 cherry tomatoes
• 4 strawberries
• 3 - 4 dried figs, sliced
• 3 tablespoons walnuts, crushed
• salt and cracked black pepper to taste

For the dressing:

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions

1. Wash and drain all the vegetables.
2. Cut he spring onions, rocket, watercress, cherry tomatoes and strawberries into smaller pieces.
3. Cut figs and crush walnuts to small pieces.
4. In a container with lid add oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar and honey and shake well.
5. Add dressing to salad, salt and pepper and toss to coat evenly and serve.

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Rocket (arugula) and Watercress (kardamon) Salad

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 2 cups of rocket
• 2 cups of fresh watercress
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 8 cherry tomatoes
• 4 strawberries
• 3 - 4 dried figs, sliced
• 3 tablespoons walnuts, crushed
• salt and cracked black pepper to taste

For the dressing:

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• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions

1. Wash and drain all the vegetables.
2. Cut he spring onions, rocket, watercress, cherry tomatoes and strawberries into smaller pieces.
3. Cut figs and crush walnuts to small pieces.
4. In a container with lid add oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar and honey and shake well.Add dressing to salad, salt and pepper and toss to coat evenly and serve.

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Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,