Watercress soup 西洋菜汤

Watercress soup...think it is the creamy soup made by blending cooked watercress? Think again.

There is this soup known as 西洋菜汤 (xi yang cai tang) that is very well-known amongst the Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia. The main ingredient is the chinese watercress.

I am using the term because I know there is another variety with thick shiny roundish leaves which is the key ingredient of the creamy water cress soup.

A picture of the chinese watercress

Chinese watercress is apparently brought to Southern China and Macau via Spain. It has one of the highest SOD levels and is supposed to be good for the lungs. It is most common seen in soups and many like to cook till it turns mushy and dark.

---

A simple homemade watercress soup recipe

My chinese watercress soup

I saw this lovely fresh chinese watercress at the wet market in Chinatown. A sudden craving hits me. I mooted the idea of cooking soup to my sister and within a few minutes, 2 bunches of chinese watercress is safely tucked away in my shopping bag. All I needed are some pork ribs, chinese wolfberries and red dates to make up the soup.

You can use the slow cooker or the thermal magic pot to make this soup. I'm using the thermal pot for this recipe.

The soup is a broth that has been simmered for about 2 hours to produce a really sweet soup. Chinese watercress like the round cabbage is better when really well-cooked. Or it could be my preference for really soft watercress in soup.

Ingredients
600g fresh chinese watercress
300g fresh pork ribs
6 red dates
1 tablespoon chinese wolfberries
Dash of salt
1200ml water

Directions

1. Parboil the pork ribs
2. Wash and clean the watercress
3. Bring a pot of water to a boil
4. Place the pork ribs, red dates, chinese wolfberries into the pot
5. Add the watercress last and press it a little into the water
6. The watercress will cook down
7. Lower the heat to a slow simmer and simmer the soup for about 4 hours
8. You know you are about there when you can smell the fragrance of the watercress in the air
9. Give the soup an occasional stir
10. Depending on your preference, crunchy or mushy, you can cook the soup a bit more
11. Season with salt before serving

Recipe link: A simple homemade watercress soup recipe

More cooking details at my blog post titled "A simple watercress soup". I am happy to report that the soup was a hit.

---

Chinese watercress soup recipe with sweet corn and pork

This recipe uses the slow cooker to simmer the soup.

Ingredients
2 ears sweet corn
1 pound watercress
4 honey dates
8 oz lean pork
1 piece dried tangerine peel
1 litre water
Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Wash the sweet corn and cut into sections
2. Wash the watercress
3. Wash the honey dates
4. Soak the dried tangerine peel
5. Parboil the lean pork
6. Bring the water to a boil
7. Place the sweet corn, watercress, honey dates, lean pork and dried tangerine peel into the water
8. Bring back to a boil
9. Lower the heat to a simmer for 2.5 hour
10. Season with salt
11. Serve

Recipe link: Chinese watercress soup recipe with sweet corn and pork

---

Herbal Watercress soup recipe with Buddha's fruit 罗汉果 (luo han guo)

Photo source: KasugaHuang at wikipedia

The Buddha's fruit or 罗汉果 (luo han guo) is a key ingredient in a popular chinese herbal tea 凉茶 (liang cha) known for its cooling properties.

It should be available in asian grocery stores in dried form.

Ingredients
600g chinese watercress
2000ml soup stock
1/2 Buddha's fruit (luo han guo)

Directions

1. Wash the water watercress thoroughly
2. Cut into shorter sections
3. Bring 2000ml soup stock to a boil
4. Add the watercress and buddha's fruit and cook on high for 4 hours
5. Season with salt
6. Serve

Recipe link: Herbal Watercress soup recipe with Buddha's fruit 罗汉果

---

Search within this site: