Fruity, oil-free watercress salad with persimmon and walnut

The fruity, oil-free watercress salad with persimmon and walnut is quick and easy to make and healthy.

Nutrient profile: According to GDA guidelines, one portion of this salad covers over 1.5 times the average daily requirement of omega-3 fatty acids and over 100% of that of vitamin K. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is 2:1, which is significantly below the recommended ratio of 5:1.
You can find further information on this topic at the following link: Vegans often eat unhealthily. Avoidable nutritional errors.

Portion information: The specified amount of 2 portions is sufficient as a side dish or starter for 2 people.

Watercress: True watercress prefers to grow in water, which is why it is also called watercress. It is best to grow raw organic watercress yourself (see tips), as it is only sporadically available in stores (in supermarkets, organic shops or weekly markets). You can also buy it as sprouted seeds or in pots. Watercress has a characteristically sharp taste, which it owes to the mustard oil glycosides it contains.

Persimmon: Persimmons are round, orange to reddish fruits that have a sweet, apricot-like aroma. When firm and not fully ripe, some varieties contain a lot of tannins, which cause a bitter taste and a furry, rough and astringent sensation. During the ripening process, however, the concentration of tannins decreases, which is why the fruits of the corresponding varieties are generally eaten when ripe or overripe. Persimmon and Sharon are cultivated forms of persimmon that have fewer tannins due to breeding and are therefore edible when firm. These varieties are preferable for the salad presented here.

Walnuts: In Central Europe, the common walnut ( Juglans regia) is particularly important. In addition to preparing and refining various dishes and desserts, walnuts are also used to make walnut oil. Of all known nuts, walnuts have the highest proportion of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). They also have health benefits thanks to their high levels of tocopherols (forms of vitamin E) and many trace elements.

Growing watercress: As a potted plant, this actual marsh and aquatic plant needs a nutrient-rich mix of sand, garden soil and compost. The container is placed in a bowl of fresh water, which is changed daily. For a 15-20 cm pot, use three to four cuttings. Shoots can be pinched off to encourage bushy growth. Root cuttings can be propagated directly in water.
You can also grow watercress yourself without soil in a germination device on the windowsill.

Instead of watercress, which is not easy to get, you can also use the more readily available radish sprouts or the slightly milder broccoli sprouts.