🥬 Vegetables & Aromatics

What Can I Substitute for Watercress? Complete Guide

Discover what you can substitute for watercress in your recipes. Get a complete guide to arugula, baby spinach, mustard greens, and other alternatives with ratios and cooking tips.

✓

Quick Answer

You can substitute Arugula, Baby Spinach, Mustard Greens, Radish Greens, Mizuna, or Cilantro + Parsley for watercress. Use 1:1 ratio for all substitutes. Arugula is the closest match with identical peppery flavor and texture.

Best Substitutes

Arugula

1:1

Arugula is what you can substitute for watercress. It has virtually identical peppery flavor and delicate texture, making it perfect for all watercress applications.

Best for:

fresh saladssoupsgarnishesall watercress applications

Arugula is what you can substitute for watercress because it has virtually identical peppery flavor and works perfectly in all recipes.

Baby Spinach

1:1

Baby spinach is what you can substitute for watercress. It provides a milder flavor but similar texture and appearance, making it perfect for family-friendly recipes.

Best for:

fresh saladssoupsfamily-friendly recipeswhen you want milder flavor

Baby spinach is what you can substitute for watercress because it has similar texture and appearance with a milder flavor that's more universally appealing.

Mustard Greens

1:1

Mustard greens are what you can substitute for watercress. They provide a similar peppery flavor with a slightly different texture, making them perfect for hearty dishes.

Best for:

hearty saladssoupsAsian-inspired recipeswhen you want peppery flavor

Mustard greens are what you can substitute for watercress because they have a similar peppery flavor that works well in robust dishes.

Radish Greens

1:1

Radish greens are what you can substitute for watercress. They offer a similar peppery flavor with a slightly different texture, making them perfect for adding peppery notes to dishes.

Best for:

fresh saladsgarnishesunique combinationswhen you want peppery flavor

Radish greens are what you can substitute for watercress because they have a similar peppery flavor that adds unique character to dishes.

Mizuna

1:1

Mizuna is what you can substitute for watercress. It provides a milder peppery flavor with similar delicate texture, making it perfect for delicate dishes.

Best for:

delicate saladssoupsJapanese-inspired recipeswhen you want mild peppery flavor

Mizuna is what you can substitute for watercress because it has a milder peppery flavor with similar delicate texture that works well in subtle applications.

Cilantro + Parsley

1:1

A combination of cilantro and parsley is what you can substitute for watercress. It provides a fresh, bright flavor that works well in many dishes.

Best for:

fresh saladssoupsMediterranean disheswhen you want fresh herb flavor

Cilantro and parsley are what you can substitute for watercress because they provide a fresh, bright flavor that works well in many applications.

Cooking Tips

  • 💡You can substitute any of these options for watercress using a 1:1 ratio
  • 💡Arugula is the closest substitute because it has identical peppery flavor to watercress
  • 💡Baby spinach works well when you want milder flavor but similar texture
  • 💡Mustard greens are perfect for hearty dishes and Asian-inspired recipes
  • 💡Radish greens add unique character to dishes while maintaining peppery flavor
  • 💡Mizuna works well in delicate dishes and Japanese-inspired recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for watercress?

You can substitute arugula, baby spinach, mustard greens, radish greens, mizuna, or cilantro + parsley for watercress. Use 1:1 ratio for all substitutes. Arugula is the closest match with identical peppery flavor and texture.

What's the best substitute for watercress?

Arugula is the best substitute for watercress because it has virtually identical peppery flavor and delicate texture. It works perfectly in all recipes where watercress is used.

What can I use instead of watercress in salads?

You can use arugula, baby spinach, mustard greens, radish greens, mizuna, or cilantro + parsley instead of watercress in salads. Arugula is the closest match with identical peppery flavor.

What can I substitute for watercress in soup?

You can substitute arugula, baby spinach, mustard greens, radish greens, mizuna, or cilantro + parsley for watercress in soup. Use 1:1 ratio and add at the end of cooking to maintain texture.

What's the difference between watercress and arugula?

Watercress and arugula are very similar. Both have peppery flavor and delicate texture. The main difference is that watercress grows in water, while arugula grows in soil. They can be used interchangeably in most recipes.

What can I use if I can't find watercress?

If you can't find watercress, you can use arugula (closest match), baby spinach (milder flavor), mustard greens (similar peppery flavor), radish greens (unique character), mizuna (delicate flavor), or cilantro + parsley (fresh herb flavor).

Summary

Discover what you can substitute for watercress in your recipes. Get a complete guide to arugula, baby spinach, mustard greens, and other alternatives with ratios and cooking tips.