Yen Can Cook ~ Sweet Watercress Drink 西洋菜蜜
The weather has been rather crazy recently with blazing sun in the afternoon followed by a sudden downpour in the evening which triggered flash flood at low lying areas. It’s time to boil some nutritious soups or herbal drinks to build and enhance our immune system as well as cleanse and soothe our body.
Today’s main ingredient is watercress which is normally used to make into savoury soup like THIS. But today’s recipe is a sweet version which I first had at a Kong Kong style Cha Chan Teng. Many of you might skeptical about the taste of this sweet watercress drink because this aquatic plant has a bitter and slightly peppery taste, will it taste good? Fret not, honey dates and rock sugar are added to sweeten the broth and minimize the bitterness. So it’s quite a delightful drink especially after being chilled.
Ingredients (Serve: 3-4)
250g watercress, cleaned and yellow leaves trimmed
5-6 honey dates, wash and make a slit on each dates (this make the flavour easier to release)
2000ml water
Rock sugar to taste
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Step 1: Cut the watercress in half lengthwise.
Step 2: In a pot, bring water to boil. Add in watercress (Step 1) and honey dates. Reduce heat and simmer with lid covered for 1 hour.
Step 3: Add rock sugar to taste and turn off the heat.
Step 4: Serve warm or chilled.
HAPPY COOKING! #stayhealthy
I’ve only had watercress in a soup….never a drink! 😉 Do you still eat the watercress & honey dates (after boiling) or they’re just for presentation?
Kris, I discarded both.
I have had this before but I don’t like it, sorry! My auntie used to boil this for her children and I just could not get it past my head that watercress can use to make sweet drink hah…hah…
PH, at first I couldn’t accept too when I knew about this drink and couldn’t imagine the taste but after my first try, I love it!
I always have watercress as soup…this idea is really special.-to drink it. 😀 But I think need to add the honey dates right? Then only it will taste better.
Tekkaus, yes, honey date is one of the ingredients.
Haven’t use this in drinks but always in soup, now I have something new to try 😀
KY, yes please and let me know if you like it.
i love watercress almost in any form, so i think i’d enjoy this drink too! great introduction to an unusual beverage recipe 🙂
Sean, now I know there are many people don’t know about this sweet watercress drink. 😛
This is actually a pretty common drink in Hong Kong, love it, good as a hot weather drink…
Ferre, yes, I had this in a Cha Chan Teng! ^__^