Soups
Watercress, Carrot, Fig and Pork Rib Soup
traditionally used to clear internal heat, moisten the lungs, and stop cough
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu has a personal fondness for watercress — he routinely buys it and uses the tender young tips as a filling for wontons and dumplings, finely chopped and mixed with minced pork, egg, and seasoning. The remaining stems, he says, are perfectly suited for this long-simmered soup. Watercress has a lovely mild bitterness that is familiar to anyone who has used it in salads, but when blanched in boiling water first and then added to a slow-cooking pot, that slight bitterness becomes a clean, refreshing sweetness in the finished broth.
In Cantonese food culture, “re qi” (loosely translated as excess internal heat) is the very common concept behind symptoms like a dry scratchy throat, mouth ulcers, constipation, or general irritability after a period of eating rich or fried food. This soup is a go-to in many households for exactly that situation — bringing the body back toward balance gently, without anything overly strong or medicinal.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family; a genuine everyday soup for all ages.
- Particularly helpful in drier or hotter weather, or after a period of eating fried, spicy, or rich foods.
- Watercress is cooling in nature; those who already feel cold easily, have frequent loose stools, or have a very cold constitution should enjoy in moderation rather than daily.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Watercress (xi yang cai): Mild in flavour, slightly cooling; traditionally associated with clearing heat, nourishing blood, stopping bleeding, and supporting the lungs. A rich source of vitamins.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): Warm in nature; helps balance the cooling tendency of the watercress. Supports the liver and eyes through its beta-carotene content.
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): Gently sweet and moistening; traditionally associated with clearing heat, lubricating the intestines, and supporting the lungs. Halving them helps flavour to release into the broth.
- Fresh ginger: A small amount of ginger warms the soup and helps balance the overall cooling character of the watercress.
- Pork ribs: Provides a rich, collagen-containing base; blanching first keeps the broth clear.
Ingredients (~4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watercress | ~300 g (half jin) | Rinsed; blanch in boiling water before using |
| Carrot | 1 large | Peeled and cut into chunks |
| Dried figs (wu hua guo) | 4 pieces | Halved |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Pork ribs | ~450 g (12 liang) | Blanched first |
| Water | 9 bowls (~2.25 litres) |
Method
- Rinse the watercress. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and blanch the watercress briefly (30–60 seconds), then remove and set aside. This step removes bitterness and locks in the fresh fragrance.
- Peel and chop the carrot. Halve the dried figs.
- Blanch the pork ribs in boiling water; drain and rinse.
- In a large pot, combine carrot, figs, pork ribs, and ginger slices with 9 bowls of water.
- Bring to a rolling boil, then add the blanched watercress.
- Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 hours.
- Serve and eat both the soup and the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
The key step with watercress is the initial blanch in a big rolling boil of water. This brief immersion locks in the green fragrance and removes the slightly bitter edge — the long simmer that follows then draws out a clean, gently sweet taste from the leaves. Skip this step and the soup may taste slightly harsh. This is a genuinely delicious, all-ages family pot that can be made any time of year but is particularly welcome in dry or hot weather.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (May): My mother has an irregular heartbeat, takes blood pressure medication, and has a fatty liver and gallstones. What food therapy can help regulate irregular heartbeat? Can she drink American ginseng (花旗参) and astragalus (北芪) steeped together? Bro Niu: An irregular heartbeat definitely needs Western medical management — the medication must be continued. For dietary support, you can use American ginseng (hua qi shen), notoginseng (tian qi), and astragalus root (bei qi) — each 2 qian — simmered in water for half an hour and drunk as a tea. Take it at least 2 hours after medication, up to 3 times a week. This combination is traditionally associated with supporting cardiovascular circulation.
-
Q (Conie): My 2-year-old daughter has had a hoarse voice for several weeks. She will not drink the loquat leaf and ophiopogon water I tried. What else can help? Bro Niu: Try simmering 15 green olives (qing gan), 1 green radish (qing luo bo), 3 qian of snow fungus (xue er), and 5 qian of southern apricot kernels (nan xing) with lean pork for 2 hours. The whole family can drink it, and it is pleasant enough that most small children will accept it. If using loquat products, try golden loquat (jin luo han guo) — it has a naturally sweet flavour without any unusual aftertaste.
Published April 11, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
