Bitter watercress
I have a recipe for spring rolls which call for (essentially) half watercress and half ground pork.
I boil the watercress first, then chop it and fry it with carrot, tofu, and seasonings. Then I add the meat (cooked previously).
Often when I make the recipe I am half-way through (or worse) and I realize that the watercress is way too bitter to eat. I'm not sure why this is happening; it could be the watercress itself or perhaps I didn't boil it long enough.
What tips do you have for preventing this situation, and is there a way to fix this dish? I'm willing to add anything, even if it changes the flavour a lot, to rescue this dish.
Best Answer
Don't boil the watercress, just wash and use raw
I suspect the Asian watercress varieties are a little hardier than what is found in most western countries
You could try substituting it with some other Asian greens. Maybe a mix of Choy Sum and Coriander with some grated White Turnip for some peppery zing. Or try other peppery greens like Arugula, Endive, or whatever local weeds provide that peppery taste (Daisy family?)
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Quick Answer about "Bitter watercress"
A : Raw watercress has a peppery taste, similar to other related plants like mustard and wasabi. Once cooked the pepperiness of watercress diminishes, leaving a distinctive vegetable flavour which tastes delicious in soups, stews and stir fries. More mature watercress can sometimes taste slightly bitter.How do you get rid of bitterness in watercress?
My mother-in-law, an expert of making watercress soup, once taught me her trick of how to make watercress soup without bitterness. It's so simple. You need to add the watercress in vigorously boiling water in batches, not in warm water or anywhere not up to the boil. Then your soup won't give you bitterness.Is watercress supposed to be bitter?
Raw watercress tastes bright and fresh, though mature plants can become slightly bitter. Its somewhat peppery flavor is reminiscent of related vegetables, like mustard greens and wasabi. The leafy green loses some of its pungency when cooked.Can you eat bitter watercress?
All aboveground parts of bittercress are edible, but many people find the flowers and flower stalks to be less palatable than the leaves. You can eat cress right out of the field, but because it tends to sprawl out across the ground, you may want to rinse it off before consuming.Is watercress poisonous?
When taken by mouth: Watercress is LIKELY SAFE in the amounts found in food. Watercress is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts used in medicine, short-term. When it is used long-term or in very large amounts, watercress is POSSIBLY UNSAFE and can cause damage to the stomach.Hairy Bitter Cress, Cardamine hirsuta, on a rooftop.
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Answer 2
OK. There is a secret Chinese way to resolve this problem.
Two points:
Put the Watercress in ONLY AND ONLY when the water is boiling. I have been making soup with Watercress for years and this should reduce the bitterness. Also, it may be good idea to add a few drops of vegetable oil in the boiling water
If you like greener Watercress, don't boil it for too long. A few mins will do the job.
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