In all the time that you've been consuming different kinds of foods, have you ever wondered when was the first time we as humans have eaten them?
I'd like to introduce you to watercress. This is one of the oldest vegetables humans have ever eaten and continue consuming.
We use it in various dishes, which can even be eaten raw. While watercress is not difficult to find in the US market, there's no telling when you'll run out of it.
If that happens, it's nice to know that there are several alternatives you could use. Let's find out what's the best watercress substitute in this article.
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Understanding Watercress
Before determining how and what to replace it with, we must first understand watercress. This will let us know what substitutes will work well with certain recipes.
What's Watercress?
Watercress, also called yellowcress, is an aquatic plant from the mustard family, which only means one thing: a leafy green.
Watercress is very common in Asia and different parts of Europe, but it's not unusual to find them in the US markets.
Most of them don't grow over 10 inches. In fact, they're usually just 4 to 6 inches tall. Because of how small it is, the leaves don't exceed 1.5 inches in diameter.
This leafy green vegetable contains 2 to 8 leaflets, but we usually include the short stems when we put them in our recipes or use them as garnish.
What Does Watercress Taste Like?
If you're familiar with arugula, you most likely won't be surprised by the taste of watercress because their flavor profiles are very similar.
It has a bright and slightly bitter flavor, but its most notable characteristic is its peppery taste, especially with mature plants.
The peppery taste, especially if eaten raw, brings it closer to wasabi and mustard greens, but it loses much of its pungent flavor once you cook them.
Where Do We Use Watercress?
We started using watercress for medicinal purposes. It's very effective in treating lung conditions and flu.
Fun Fact: We also used watercress to treat baldness!
In the kitchen, however, watercress tells a different story. Aside from its nutritional benefits, the flavors and texture provided by watercress shows just how versatile this leafy green is.
Its most common use involve salads, but you will also find them in various recipes for sauces, pasta dishes, and casseroles.
The delightful bitter taste is something you shouldn't miss out on, regardless of whatever recipe you're trying to cook.
Best Substitutes for Watercress
So, what happens if you don't have a watercress at home or can't find one in your local supermarket? Well, you can just switch to a watercress substitute.
You want to look for leafy greens that are bright, peppery, and have a slightly bitter flavor. Here are some prime examples.
1. Arugula
As I've mentioned earlier, watercress tastes very similar to arugula. Ergo, arugula is an excellent substitute.
They may look very different, but if taste is what you're going for, this is the perfect choice. This green leafy vegetable belongs to the mustard family, so they're not far apart.
Aside from the fresh and peppery flavor, arugula adds a slightly spicy flavor to your recipe, albeit not so much. Nonetheless, I want you to be mindful of that so there are no surprises.
Another thing that makes this a better option than other leafy greens is its accessibility. It's even much easier to find arugula than watercress.
Best for salads and as a pizza topping.
Here's a Pub-Style Pretzel Burger With Bacon recipe where you can try arugula.
2. Radish Sprouts
It's easy to mistake radish sprouts for watercress because of how similar their appearances are. They also come from the same genus, so they're not that different in all other aspects.
Radish sprouts will also introduce a hint of bitterness to your recipe. However, they can be rather hard to find in US markets.
Don't worry. Radish sprouts are relatively easy to care for. So, if you can't find a store selling it, just grow one at home!
Best for sandwiches and salads.
3. Water Spinach
The name water spinach is quite a puzzle. On the one hand, it does indeed grow near rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. On the other, it's not a spinach.
It's a vining plant that belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. Water spinach is native to Southeast Asian countries, where it's more commonly known as kangkong (kháng = hole, and khong = hollow).
One of the best things about water spinach is its mild flavor that doesn't overpower any recipe.
It also tends to absorb the dish's flavor, making it an excellent addition to your recipe and a great substitute for watercress.
Best for soups and sautés.
4. Beet Greens
Beet greens are extremely popular for their roots and stems (beetroot stalks). However, the leaves actually make for great watercress substitutes.
However, it's one of those leafy vegetables where the leaves tend to be as big as the body. Ergo, you might have to chop it into little pieces before using them as substitutes for watercress.
The flavor profile is also slightly different, with beet greens being a bit earthy and sweet. Nonetheless, the slightly sweeter flavor is a great touch for salads if you don't have watercress.
Best for salads.
5. Lettuce
Good news! Our good old lettuce will work as a great substitute for watercress. This is an excellent choice if you don't particularly like the bitter taste of watercress.
Lettuce is also the preferred substitute by many people because, well, who doesn't like lettuce? It's very easy to find. Plus, it's so affordable!
I also like that it gives your recipe a crunchy texture, so it's not that boring to eat. It's a great substitute because you can use it for other things.
For instance, lettuce wraps are slowly and steadily becoming popular not just because of how they taste but also because it's an excellent alternative to bread to cut down your carb intake.
Best for wraps, soups, burgers, sandwiches, and grilled foods.
Check out this Air Fryer Hamburgers recipe to see where you stand on lettuce.
6. Cabbage
Almost every edible plant with leaves that wrap around it is an excellent watercress substitute. Similar to lettuces, cabbages are also very easy to find.
You get tremendous health benefits from its leaves and the peppery taste you want from watercress (although it turns a bit sweeter when cooked).
Red cabbages will also do just fine. Just remember that it'll add a slightly earthier flavor to your recipe (but richer).
Best for soups, fried rice, and pickled dishes.
You can try using cabbage in this Air Fryer Fried Rice recipe.
7. Baby Spinach
Baby spinach does not have that slightly peppery taste you get from watercress, but it's around the same size and texture.
It has a sweet taste, but it's very mild and subtle that you won't encounter any problem adding it to just about any recipe.
It's a versatile substitute, and they're available in the market all year round. The best part is that it's relatively cheaper than watercress.
Best for just about anything.
8. Chinese Cabbage
Korean cuisine is slowly gaining popularity all over the country (and globally, to be honest). If you've ever tried it, you might be familiar with kimchi.
Kimchi comes from Chinese cabbage, and this leafy green vegetable is a popular watercress substitute, albeit with different flavor profiles.
Watercress has a peppery flavor and tastes a bit bitter, while Chinese cabbage tends to be on the sweeter side of the spectrum.
Nonetheless, it adds a delightful flavor to your recipes and is very easy to find in supermarkets.
Pro-Tip: Use your extra Chinese cabbages to make kimchi!
Best for noodle dishes, stir-fries, salads, and soups.
If you're trying to make kimchi but can't find gochuragu anywhere, here are some great substitutes to try.
9. Kale
Several years ago, kale became one of the most popular leafy greens in the world. Up until now, you will find countless recipes that include this ingredient.
This led to one significant improvement in the global market trade; kale became widely available in Western countries because of high demand.
Its crisp texture and sweet taste may not be similar to watercress, but it's still a versatile substitute, almost as versatile as baby spinach.
Best for just about anything.
10. Collard Greens
Collard greens are excellent substitutes for kale. So, in essence, you can replace watercress with collard greens as well.
The flavor profile and texture are similar to kale, which is relatively bitter with a little crispiness. But you want to remove the stems first since these can be hard to chew.
It's also versatile since you can eat it raw or add it to your recipes, especially since collard greens do not wilt very easily while cooking.
Best for salads, soups, stir-fried dishes, stews, and green smoothies.
Here are some Cream Of Chicken Soup Substitutes where you can try collard greens.
11. Mustard Greens
Mustard greens, as the name suggests, come from the mustard family. It's one of the most popular dark leafy greens in the world of veggies.
If you don't like the bitter taste of watercress, unfortunately, you probably wouldn't like this substitute either.
They have a very similar flavor profile, albeit mustard greens have significantly stronger and more concentrated flavors. But it works as a substitute because of its peppery taste.
You can reduce the bitterness by adding lemon juice to your recipe.
Best for salads, sautés, and pies.
12. Dandelion Greens
The best substitutes for watercress are dark leafy greens with bitter flavor profiles. Nothing fits that profile better than dandelion greens.
However, you must be careful because its bitter flavor is significantly stronger than watercress's. It also tends to be quite spicy when the leaves mature.
Nonetheless, you can still enjoy dandelion greens by reducing the bitterness with bacon grease, olive oil, or lemon juice.
Best for frittatas, salads, quiche, and sauces.
13. Nasturtium Leaves
Nasturtium leaves are even rarer than watercress, but they still work as substitutes for the latter. That is if you have them at home.
You can try looking for them in your local supermarket. Maybe you'd get lucky. If you can't find it, try looking for "Indian cress." It's the same thing.
Nasturtium leaves or Indian cress have a similar taste, texture, and aroma as watercress. It has that peppery bite to it, adding depth to your dish.
Best for sauces and salads.
14. Early Yellow Rocket
The early yellow rocket also goes by the name upland cress, and it also comes from the same family as the watercress (mustard family).
Its flavor profile is somewhat similar to watercress, although the peppery flavor is more intense.
It was commonly used as a medicinal herb because it reduces inflammation, but it wasn't long until we discovered its practical applications in the kitchen.
It also adds a crisp texture to your recipe, making it an excellent substitute for watercress in sandwiches and salads.
Best for sandwiches and salads.
Try it on this Warm Connecticut Lobster Roll Sandwich recipe.
Tips When Replacing Watercress
While watercress contains various nutrients, flavors, and textures you won't find elsewhere, it's not difficult to find a substitute with at least one or two of these characteristics.
Therefore, when replacing watercress, be sure to consider these factors.
Nutritional Value
Its nutritional value is one of the main reasons the watercress is as popular as it is. Countless people globally are switching to a healthier lifestyle.
Ergo, the best watercress substitute, should also provide numerous health benefits. Leafy green substitutes are perhaps the best alternatives for nutrition and vitamin content.
Taste
As with any substitute, you want to look for something with a similar taste. Arugula, dandelion greens, and early yellow rocket are some alternatives that come to mind.
On the other hand, it's not unusual to look for a substitute that has a different flavor profile than watercress as long as it fits the overall taste of the recipe.
For instance, water spinach, lettuce, and cabbages have slightly different flavors than watercress, but they all work as substitutes because of how great they blend with other ingredients.
Availability
Lastly, you want to consider the availability of the substitute. After all, what's the point of spending hours looking for a substitute if the watercress is easier to locate?
Unless, of course, you grow some of the substitutes above at home or you can't use watercress for health and personal reasons.
Arugula, lettuces, and cabbages are some of the most widely accessible substitutes.
Watercress Substitute FAQs
Yes and no. Watercress is different from the "cabbage" we know of, a round cruciferous vegetable with large green leaves.
However, it does belong to the same family as cabbage, called the cabbage family, mustard family, or Brassicaceae.
Watercress is an excellent substitute for parsley. It doesn't completely alter the recipe's flavor profile, yet it provides that peppery punch you're looking for.
Watercress is an ancient green leafy vegetable that belongs to the same cruciferous family as kale, arugula, broccoli, cabbages, and Brussels sprouts.
Finding the Best Watercress Substitute
You need to consider many things when looking for a watercress substitute. Thankfully, the world of vegetables has an incredibly long roster of the best alternatives.
Try any of the substitutes above, and let me know which one you think is best for a certain recipe. To learn more about kitchen substitutions for certain ingredients, visit Also The Crumbs, Please.
I, for one, also have an incredibly long roster of the best substitutes for the most common and the rarest ingredients you could use in the kitchen.
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Recipe
Best Watercress Substitutes
Ingredients
- arugula
- radish sprouts
- water spinach
Instructions
- Choose any of the best substitutes for watercress depending on what you want for your recipe and which one is readily accessible.
- Use as a substitute for watercress in a 1:1 ratio, depending on the recipe.
Notes
You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.
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