Watercress soup 西洋菜南北杏豬展湯

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Ingredients

1 big bunch watercress

300g pork loins

10-20g sweet and bitter apricot kernels (nan bei xing)

1 dried arhat fruit (luo han guo)

1.5 litre water

Salt to taste

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Method

Clean and wash the watercress thoroughly. Blanch the pork loins in a pot of boiling water to get rid of excess fats and scum. Remove and set aside.

Pour 1.5 litre of water in a pot. Once boiled, add all ingredients into the pot, including the pork loins. Cover and bring to a boil, then turn the heat down till the water simmers slightly. Leave to cook for one to two hours. When the soup is done, add some salt to bring out the flavor.

Dish and serve.

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Note

1. Watercress contains vitamins A, C and K. It is a good source of iron and calcium and is full of beneficial glucosinates. Luo han guo and nan bei xin help to relieve cough and nourish the lung.

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2. Make sure that the watercress is washed well to remove soil and worms that may be found in burrows within the body of the leaf.

3. Cooking watercress in cold water will make the soup bitter. Always make sure that the watercress is added to boiling water.