how to use watercress
And my recipe for watercress, pea and artichoke soup
I love watercress and welcome its seasonal return in the UK each Spring. I love to make the most of spring flavours with fresh and fast recipe ideas. More time to enjoy the good weather! ways to use watercress include:
If you like salads that pack a nutrition punch then watercress with its delicious spiciness is for you. Balance its flavour with a sharp, yet sweet, lemon and honey dressing.
Use instead of basil to make pesto or layer into sandwiches for a peppery change to your usual greens and garnish all your favourite spring foods. My favourite has to be in soups & I have shared a delicious watercress soup recipe below. Enjoy!
The Ingredients
800ml stock (I use my own chicken stock from my website but you can use any that you prefer)
1 bag of watercress (keep some aside to garnish
Sprig of thyme
Half an onion
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt
Black Pepper
300g frozen peas
A handful of artichoke halves (ideally cooked from fresh but I used from a jar because I couldn’t source any fresh. Just be sure to drain off excess oil first).
The Instructions
In a wide pan, fry off the onion, garlic & thyme in olive oil seasoned with salt & pepper until soft.
Add chicken stock, peas & watercress, season with salt & pepper
Simmer for 10 minutes
Leave to cool sufficiently before transferring the contents to a blender. Whizz until smooth
Transfer the soup back to the pan & warm through until piping hot
Serve the soup with a little creme fresh, garnished with more watercress, parsley & my home grown broccoli sprouts.
The Science
Watercress has just come into season in the UK in April. Make the most of this delicious, often overlooked leafy green. It packs a super nutritional punch being rich in beta-carotene (the plant form of vitamin A), vitamin C, E, K & B vitamins as well as minerals calcium, iron, potassium & iodine. Its high in dietary nitrate which is heart healthy, reduces blood pressure & inflammation by supporting nitric oxide production.
Peas are a household classic with most of us having a bag in the freezer. They are a fantastic source of plant-based protein - a key macronutrient needed to support our immunity.
I’ve added prebiotic rich artichokes to give the soup more body & texture as well as fertilising our gut bugs so they can coach & train our immune cells to work optimally and keep us well.
For anyone suffering with hay fever or histamine issues, watercress is a low-histamine green full of flavonols that have been shown to be helpful for your symptoms.