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intrepidity

(7,894 posts)
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 10:25 PM Feb 2024

Watercress. What to do with it?

So I was at an Asian grocery store, and they had bunches of green herby things in bags, and it turns out I inadvertantly bought 3 bunches of watercress (thinking it may be some sort of basil or mint, which I was actually looking for, and got).

My current purpose is in a Thai red curry. But, i tasted the watercress and it was somewhat bitterish. What do people use it for?

The upside to the trip was I got several bags of unknown but interesting tasting herbs, that I have yet to identify.

But wondering what to do with 3 bunches of watercress? TIA

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Watercress. What to do with it? (Original Post) intrepidity Feb 2024 OP
Try stir fry a sample Tetrachloride Feb 2024 #1
I just mix it in with salad greens but chowder66 Feb 2024 #2
Hmm if I just add it to the curry, do you think it will mess it up? intrepidity Feb 2024 #4
I couldn't say. chowder66 Feb 2024 #7
Have a tea party with Victorian Water Cress Tea Sandwiches! diva77 Feb 2024 #3
I've made watercress and cucumber sandwiches Retrograde Feb 2024 #10
Italians would mix in a tiny bit of the bitter leaf (torn) into a predominantly sweet salad fierywoman Feb 2024 #5
An episode of Julia Child's "The French Chef" was about watercress soup. niyad Feb 2024 #6
This may give you a few ideas werdna Feb 2024 #8
I like watercress enough to make a salad of it. markodochartaigh Feb 2024 #9
Yay! Yes, that is one of them! intrepidity Feb 2024 #13
Make a wonderful Cantonese Pork Rib Soup parkia00 Feb 2024 #11
Oh my. Perfect! intrepidity Feb 2024 #12

chowder66

(9,825 posts)
2. I just mix it in with salad greens but
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 10:31 PM
Feb 2024

I’ve heard of watercress tea and soup. Google watercress recipes for more ideas.

Happy eating!

intrepidity

(7,894 posts)
4. Hmm if I just add it to the curry, do you think it will mess it up?
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 11:08 PM
Feb 2024

I'm basically slow-cooking a pot of curry to freeze. Right now it tastes really good. It's like 5 quarts. Will the watercress just meld in and play together?

chowder66

(9,825 posts)
7. I couldn't say.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 11:44 PM
Feb 2024

I don’t think it’s hearty enough to stand up to it. It could change the flavor but I think it might be a little odd in texture.

diva77

(7,880 posts)
3. Have a tea party with Victorian Water Cress Tea Sandwiches!
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 10:45 PM
Feb 2024
Victorian Watercress Tea Sandwiches for High Tea and Picnics

https://www.food.com/recipe/victorian-watercress-tea-sandwiches-for-high-tea-and-picnics-412074

"During Victorian times, children used to take watercress sandwiches to school in place of meat ones. I love them, especially when cut into small trianges and served with a cuppa (cup of tea!). Use the freshest bread - I like to use wholemeal, and a fresh salted farmhouse butter. I have included a soup idea at the end of the recipe, to be made with the excess stalks! So a soup and sandwich recipe then!"
SNIP


[recipe at link]

Retrograde

(10,661 posts)
10. I've made watercress and cucumber sandwiches
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 02:02 AM
Feb 2024

for teas (on whole wheat bread, with the crusts cut off for daintiness). It's a bit peppery, so using a small amount in curries or stir-fries would be interesting.

fierywoman

(8,108 posts)
5. Italians would mix in a tiny bit of the bitter leaf (torn) into a predominantly sweet salad
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 11:33 PM
Feb 2024

(ex.: butter lettuce -- or romaine or red leaf, etc.) with a vinaigrette dressing. Proportions so that every few bites you'd get a little hit of the bitter.
Watercress soup would be a classic -- I've never made it, but imagine it would be creamy.
I bet there's a pesto recipe.
By the time you take the leaves off the stalks there's not a whole lot left.

niyad

(120,041 posts)
6. An episode of Julia Child's "The French Chef" was about watercress soup.
Mon Feb 26, 2024, 11:43 PM
Feb 2024

Also, little tea sandwiches.

markodochartaigh

(2,112 posts)
9. I like watercress enough to make a salad of it.
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 01:56 AM
Feb 2024

If one of your mystery greens happens to be Viet Namese coriander it is incredibly easy to root, and grow in water. You can have it forever.

https://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/herbs/vietnamese-coriander/

intrepidity

(7,894 posts)
13. Yay! Yes, that is one of them!
Tue Feb 27, 2024, 03:28 PM
Feb 2024

I took pics that I was going to research later, but you beat me to it. That definitely got added to the curry.

There are still a couple mysteries, both are like broadleaf grasses, I suspect one may be ramps, which I've only heard about but never tried; but the minute I tasted it, my brain just lit up and said "ramps." Gotta verify.

Thank you!

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