WATERCRESS SALAD WITH FRESH PAPAYA AND SPICED CASHEW NUTS

Watercress Salad with Fresh Papaya and Spiced Cashew Nuts image

Provided by Roger Mooking

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 teaspoon butter
1/2 cup unsalted cashews
Pinch paprika
Pinch kosher salt
2 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 shallot, finely diced
Kosher salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 small ripe papayas, peeled, halved, and sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
Bunch watercress, stemmed, rinsed and dried
Vinaigrette, as needed

Steps:

For the nuts:
In a small frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Drop the cashews into the pan, and toast until golden brown. Remove the pan from the heat, then sprinkle over the paprika and salt, and gently toss to coat.
For the vinaigrette:
In a small bowl, combine the seasoned rice wine vinegar with the white wine vinegar. Add in the shallot, and a pinch of salt, and then stir. Add the oil in a thin stream, while whisking the mixture thoroughly with a fork or whisk.
For the salad:
Arrange the sliced papaya on a serving plate, and pile the watercress greens on top.
Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette, and garnish with the whole spiced cashews.