Cantonese Soup Recipe

Watercress Pork Soup

Watercress pork soup is a Cantonese-style clear soup made with pork, watercress, ginger, and slow simmering.

Recipe at a glance

PurposeMenu-derived Chinese restaurant recipe family
Cuisine or formatCantonese Soup
Consolidation ruleClosely related menu names are treated as one recipe family when the sauce, technique, or format is the same.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb pork ribs, lean pork, or sliced pork
  • 2 bunches watercress
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 8 cups water
  • Salt
  • White pepper
  • Optional dried dates

Method

  1. Blanch pork if using ribs or bones.
  2. Simmer pork with ginger and water.
  3. Add watercress and simmer until the broth is flavored.
  4. Season with salt and white pepper.
  5. Serve hot with rice.

Menu-literacy notes

  • Watercress is peppery and becomes part of the broth flavor.
  • Cantonese soups are often clear rather than creamy.
  • Pork bones or lean pork determine richness.

Menu appearances covered by this recipe

  • Sliced Pork with Watercress Soup

Variations and substitutions

  • Adjust the protein or vegetable only when the core technique and sauce remain recognizable.
  • For allergies or religious dietary needs, check sauces, broth, wrappers, cooking wine, and shared wok or fryer use.
  • For restaurant-style versions, texture matters as much as flavor: noodles should not be mushy, fried items should not be soggy, and broths should remain clear unless the dish calls for thickness.

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