This classic Chinese watercress pork bones soup recipe (西洋菜豬骨蜜棗湯) is very simple and easy. Also, this is instant pot watercress soup recipe.
Love authentic Chinese soups? Check out these dried bok choy soup, lotus root pork soup and tomato potato pork bone soup recipes.
What is watercress?
It is an aquatic plant species with the botanical name Nasturtium officinale. In fact, it is a rapidly growing, aquatic plant and native to Europe and Asia. In western countries, people usually use watercress to make salad. However, Asians like to use watercress to make soup.
Watercress pork bones dates soup (西洋菜豬骨蜜棗湯):
Watercress pork bones soup (西洋菜豬骨蜜棗湯) is a Chinese soup. Also, it's very common in southern part of China. The main ingredients are watercress, pork bones, water and Chinese dates.
What are the benefits of watercress:
Moreover, watercress is low calories and rich in vitamin K. It contains significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, manganese, and folate as well.
In addition, in Chinese medicine point of view, watercress has some sorts of medical functions. For example, it helps with lungs disease and moisture your lungs from coughing. Also, my mom likes to make this Chinese pork and watercress soup during fall.
Memory with watercress harvest:
When I was around 8-9 years old, I helped my friend's family harvest watercress in the field. As I remembered it was so much fun to step into the muddy fields as a kid. Anyways, this was one of my good memories about watercress and watercress soup!
Cooking tips for how to make watercress pork bone soup:
- Wash watercress and soak into water for about 15 minutes to get rid of insects or little bugs, remember to wash them a few times.
- Wash the pork bones with hot water. (Some people will boil them in water for a minute or two to get rid of some fat and blood.)
- If you don't have pressure cook, you can just add 2 more cups of water and turn the fire to low after the water boiling and let it simmering for 2 hours.
Instructions for how to make instant pot watercress Chinese soup:
1. Wash watercress and soak into water for about 15 minutes to get rid of insects or little bugs.
2. Wash the pork bones with hot water. (Some people will boil them in water for a minute or two to get rid of some fat and blood.)
3. Add all the ingredients watercress, pork bones, and dates in a pressure cooker pot and add water. Cover the lid and close the vent. Push manual button and set for 60 minutes and natural release.
4. Remove fat (you can buy oil skimmer/ strainer) and add salt to your taste.
Enjoy this simple and easy watercress soup recipe! Also, check out these Asian soup kimchi tofu soup, hot & sour soup and miso soup recipes.
You May Also Like These Recipes:
- WONTON SOUP (雲吞湯)
- HOT AND SOUR SOUP (酸辣湯)
- SWEET CORN CARROT PORK BONE SOUP
- KIMCHI TOFU SOUP (SUNDUBU-JJIGAE)
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Watercress pork bones dates soup (西洋菜豬骨蜜棗湯）
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Watercress
- 3 pieces Pork neck bones
- 2 pieces Chinese dates (Candied jujube)
- 10 cups Water
- Salt to your taste
Instructions
- Wash watercress and soak into water for about 15 minutes to get rid of some insects or little bugs.
- Wash the pork bones with hot water. (Some people will boil them in water for a minute or two to get rid of some fat and blood.)
- Add all the ingredients watercress, pork bones, and dates in a pressure cooker pot and add water. Cover the lid and close the vent. Push manual button and set for 60 minutes then natural release.
- Remove fat (you can buy a oil skimmer/ strainer from Amazon) and add salt to your taste and enjoy!
Notes
Cooking tips for how to make watercress pork bone soup:
- Wash watercress and soak into water for about 15 minutes to get rid of some insects or little bugs, remember to wash them a few times.
- Wash the pork bones with hot water. (Some people will boil them in water for a minute or two to get rid of some fat and blood.)
- If you don't have pressure cook, you can just add 2 more cups of water and turn the fire to low after the water boiling and let it simmering for 2 hours.
Nutrition