9 Best Substitute For Watercress

Watercress, a leafy green known for its peppery flavor and remarkable nutritional profile, is often a key ingredient in salads, sandwiches, and soups. However, it can sometimes be tricky to find or out of season, making it essential to know which substitutes can bring comparable flavors and nutrients to your dishes. This guide seeks to equip you with a solid understanding of the top substitutes for watercress, their unique characteristics, and how they can be utilized in your cooking adventures.

This article offers a detailed exploration of substitutes that not only match the spicy flavor profile of watercress but also maintain a similar nutritional makeup. From arugula’s peppery bite to the earthy robustness of kale, we’ve selected replacements that are easily accessible and offer their own unique benefits to your meals. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a culinary novice, knowing how to interchange these ingredients will allow you to keep your meals exciting, versatile, and healthy.

What is Watercress?

Watercress is a nutrient-dense leafy green known for its peppery taste, similar to that of mustard. It is a member of the Brassicaceae family and is closely related to radishes, arugula, and mustard greens. It is often used in salads, soups, and sandwiches to add a spicy kick and an extra layer of flavor. Its vibrant green leaves not only offer a visual appeal to dishes, but also provide a wealth of nutritional benefits, including vitamins A, C, and K, and a range of minerals.

Quick Harvest of Substitutes For Watercress

• Arugula
• Baby Spinach
• Curly Endive
• Kale
• Radish Sprouts
• Belgian Endive
• Chinese Broccoli
• Mustard Greens
• Tatsoi

Best Substitutes For Watercress

When you can’t find watercress, or you’re in need of a quick alternative, there are several excellent substitutes that can provide a similar taste, texture, and nutritional profile. Each of these substitutes has unique qualities, so choosing the right one will depend on the specific dish you’re preparing and your personal taste preferences.

Arugula

One of the best substitutes for watercress is arugula, a leafy green that’s also known as rocket. It has a slightly bitter, peppery flavor that’s similar to watercress, making it a suitable alternative in many dishes.

Arugula’s distinctive taste is particularly highlighted when it is used fresh in salads. Its vibrant green leaves not only bring a visual charm, but also provide a delightful crunchy texture. It is important to note, however, that the intensity of flavor in arugula can vary. Younger leaves tend to have a milder taste, while older ones can be quite robust.

Arugula also offers numerous health benefits, much like watercress. It is packed with vitamins A, C, and K, and is a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Plus, it’s also rich in antioxidants, which can provide added benefits to your overall health.

Baby Spinach

Baby spinach, another leafy green, serves as a great substitute for watercress. It is more mild in taste but offers a similar texture, making it an excellent choice for those who find the peppery flavor of watercress or arugula a bit too overpowering.

Baby spinach leaves are tender and slightly sweet, providing a subtle contrast to the pungency of watercress. It is a versatile ingredient and can be used both raw in salads and cooked in various dishes. It holds up well under heat, which makes it a perfect addition to soups, stews, or stir-fries.

Like watercress and arugula, baby spinach is nutritionally dense, packed with vitamins A, C, and K, along with iron, fiber, and calcium. Adding baby spinach to your meals can contribute to a balanced and healthy diet.

Curly Endive

Curly endive, with its slightly bitter taste, serves as a robust alternative to watercress. It has curly, pale green leaves that add a unique texture and visual appeal to dishes.

The unique shape and texture of curly endive make it a standout in salads, offering a distinctive crunch. It’s also a popular choice for soups and stews, as it retains its texture well when cooked. However, its slightly bitter taste can be mellowed out by pairing it with sweeter ingredients, or by briefly blanching it before use.

In terms of nutrition, curly endive provides ample vitamins A and K, as well as folate, fiber, and antioxidants. It’s a healthful addition to any diet, offering nutritional benefits comparable to watercress.

Kale

Kale, known for its dense nutritional profile and hearty texture, can also substitute watercress. Although its taste is more earthy and less spicy, it can provide a similar bite when used in salads or cooked dishes.

Kale’s texture makes it a great ingredient in a variety of culinary applications. Its leaves hold up well to heat, making it an excellent choice for stir-fries, soups, and stews. It can also be used raw, but it’s often recommended to massage the leaves first to soften them and make them more palatable.

Nutritionally, kale is a powerhouse. It’s rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and provides a good amount of fiber, calcium, and iron. It also contains antioxidants, making it a superfood that offers a myriad of health benefits.

Radish Sprouts

Radish sprouts, though less common, serve as an intriguing alternative to watercress. Their unique, peppery flavor closely mimics that of watercress, and their crunch adds an extra dimension to dishes.

These sprouts can be used in a similar fashion to watercress, offering a spicy kick when used raw in salads or sandwiches. They can also be lightly cooked and used as garnishes to add flavor and visual appeal.

In terms of nutrition, radish sprouts are rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. They also contain essential minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Their nutritional profile, coupled with their unique taste and texture, make them a worthy substitute for watercress.

Belgian Endive

Belgian endive, with its crisp texture and slightly bitter flavor, offers another alternative to watercress. It’s commonly used in salads, but can also be braised or grilled for a different taste experience.

The compact shape of Belgian endive leaves makes them great for stuffing or using as a base for appetizers. They can be used whole, or chopped into smaller pieces to add a crunchy texture to salads and other dishes.

As for nutrition, Belgian endive is low in calories but rich in vitamins A and K, fiber, and folate. Its unique texture and nutritional profile make it a versatile and healthful alternative to watercress.

Chinese Broccoli

Chinese broccoli, also known as gai lan, is a leafy green that serves as a solid alternative to watercress in cooked dishes. It has a slightly bitter and earthy flavor, which can add complexity to a range of recipes.

Chinese broccoli’s thick, flat leaves and thick stems make it suitable for stir-frying, steaming, and boiling. It is particularly popular in Asian cuisine, often served with a drizzle of oyster sauce.

From a nutritional perspective, Chinese broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. It also provides a good amount of dietary fiber and is rich in antioxidants, offering a variety of health benefits.

Mustard Greens

Mustard greens, known for their peppery, slightly bitter flavor, are a great substitute for watercress. They can be used in salads, stir-fries, and soups to add a pungent kick.

The large, frilly leaves of mustard greens offer a robust texture, whether used raw or cooked. It’s worth noting, however, that the flavor can be quite strong, so it might be a good idea to mix them with milder greens if you’re using them raw in salads.

When it comes to nutrition, mustard greens are a powerhouse. They are high in vitamins A, C, and K, and contain significant amounts of fiber, calcium, and antioxidants.

Tatsoi

Tatsoi, a leafy green also known as spinach mustard or rosette bok choy, rounds out our list of watercress substitutes. It has a mild, slightly mustardy flavor, and its small, spoon-shaped leaves provide a unique texture.

Tatsoi can be used both raw and cooked, making it a versatile addition to salads, soups, and stir-fries. Its leaves are tender, with a texture similar to spinach, but with a flavor profile that’s more similar to mustard greens.

Nutritionally, tatsoi is comparable to other leafy greens, offering plenty of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium and potassium. It’s a nutritious and delicious substitute for watercress, especially in Asian-inspired dishes.

Substitutes for Watercress: Nutritional Profile

Given that one of the key aspects of watercress is its nutritional profile, it’s important to understand how the substitutes stack up. Here’s how they compare per ¼ cup serving:

Substitute	Gluten	Calories	Fat	Carbs	Fiber	Protein
Arugula	Gluten-free	5	0.1g	0.7g	0.3g	0.5g
Baby Spinach	Gluten-free	7	0.1g	1.1g	0.7g	0.9g
Curly Endive	Gluten-free	8	0.2g	1.7g	1.3g	0.6g
Kale	Gluten-free	34	0.5g	6.7g	1.3g	2.2g
Radish Sprouts	Gluten-free	16	0.2g	3.4g	1.9g	1.5g
Belgian Endive	Gluten-free	8	0.2g	1.6g	1.6g	0.6g
Chinese Broccoli	Gluten-free	11	0.4g	2.2g	0.9g	1.2g
Mustard Greens	Gluten-free	15	0.2g	2.0g	1.8g	1.5g
Tatsoi	Gluten-free	4	0.1g	0.6g	0.3g	0.5g

As you can see, while there are slight differences in nutritional content, all of these substitutes offer a good range of nutrients, making them excellent alternatives to watercress.

Conclusion

Understanding the best substitutes for watercress can be a significant advantage in the kitchen, particularly when you’re trying to keep your meals flavorful, interesting, and nutritionally balanced. Each of these substitutes brings its own unique taste, texture, and nutrient profile, so there’s plenty of room for experimentation and variety in your cooking.

Remember that the best substitute for watercress will often depend on the specific dish and your personal taste preferences. So, whether you’re using arugula in a salad, baby spinach in a stir-fry, or radish sprouts as a garnish, you’re bound to find an alternative that suits your culinary needs. Happy cooking!