Soups
Watercress Monk-Fruit Snakehead Soup
Traditionally used to clear heat, soothe the throat and ease phlegm
Why people make this soup
Marsh yellowcress (tang ge cai) is a medicinal green traditionally valued to calm a cough and loosen phlegm, available at Chinese or Asian grocers when in season. Simmered with snakehead fish it makes a clear, gently sweet broth; toss in a golden monk fruit and it turns into the soup Bro Niu reaches for when throats feel hot and scratchy or gums are tender. Easy, soothing, and family-friendly.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people with a hot, scratchy throat, mild cough with phlegm, or tender, swollen gums.
- Also traditionally enjoyed by those with excess “bone heat” or puffy face and eyes.
- Those who are physically weak, and women during their period, should drink only sparingly.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Marsh yellowcress (tang ge cai): Contains compounds traditionally associated with calming a cough, loosening phlegm and supporting the body against bugs.
- Golden monk fruit (luo han guo): Naturally sweet; traditionally used to clear heat and soothe the throat.
- Snakehead fish (sheng yu): Traditionally used to support the body’s vitality and aid recovery.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh yellowcress (tang ge cai) | ~150 g | Trim roots and wilted leaves, rinse |
| Golden monk fruit (luo han guo) | 1 | Crush |
| Snakehead fish (sheng yu) | 1 | Clean, pan-fry lightly, place in a soup bag |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3 slices | — |
| Honey dates (mi zao) | 2 | — |
Method
- Trim the roots and wilted leaves from the watercress and rinse; crush the monk fruit.
- Clean the snakehead fish, pan-fry lightly in a little oil, then place in a soup bag.
- Bring 8 bowls of water to a boil, add everything, return to a boil, then simmer on medium-low for about 1.5 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear, sweet and pleasant, suitable for young and old. It is also traditionally enjoyed by those with excess heat or a puffy face and eyes. But those who are weak in constitution, and women during their period, should drink only a little.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (CoCo): My husband gets swollen, sore gums after staying up late — what soup or food helps? Bro Niu: Simply gargling with strong salt water, holding it for half a minute each mouthful, twice a day, traditionally helps calm swelling. Foodwise, you can cook a century-egg and salted lean-pork congee, or simmer soybean sprouts (~300 g), snow fungus (2 qian) and 2 blocks of firm tofu with lean pork.
- Q (Ada): I had influenza A and took the antiviral; what can I eat to recover afterward? Bro Niu: After the flu you can simmer 3 qian American ginseng (xi yang shen), 1 old cucumber, and 40 g each of rice beans, hyacinth beans and Job’s tears with lean pork; add the ginseng slices late. The whole family can drink it, traditionally to clear heat and nourish yin.
- Q (Angie): My 5-year-old has been sneezing 6–8 times a day, day and night. What can I cook? Does tiger-milk mushroom help? Bro Niu: First simmer 8 magnolia buds (xin yi hua), 2 qian cocklebur (cang er zi) and 2 qian angelica (bai zhi) in 4 bowls of water down to 2 bowls; you can add honey, 3–4 servings, traditionally to ease nasal sensitivity. Tiger-milk mushroom can be used in a tonic soup.
Published May 28, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
