THE CHINESE HERB GARDEN - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 146

Varieties
Generally only one variety is available. Look under cress as well as watercress in the
index of seed catalogs and Web sites. There are several other plants called cress with
a similar peppery flavor, including upland cress (Barbarea verna) and several variet-
ies of a species that's popular in Europe, Lepidum sativum . These are grown in soil or
sprouted the same way as bean sprouts.
DID YOU KNOW?
In addition to vitamin C, watercress is an excellent source of vitamin A. It has almost three times as much
calcium as broccoli and is a valuable source of vitamin E, iron, and folate. If you use watercress regularly
in place of lettuce, you'll add appreciably to your intake of vitamins and minerals. All this, and it's deli-
cious, too.
CULINARY USES
Once you get started eating watercress, you'll think of many, many ways to use it.
SANDWICHES . Watercress makes great sandwiches. Cream cheese, cucumber, and wa-
tercress on whole-wheat bread is cool, crisp, and flavorful. Or substitute blue cheese
blended with yogurt. Use watercress in sandwiches in packed lunches or for a picnic;
the watercress won't go limp on a hot day the way lettuce will.
SOUPS . Make an unusual garnish for a hot or cold soup by whipping lightly salted
cream and folding in finely chopped watercress. Cream of watercress soup is a real
delight and very quick to prepare. Put the watercress in a blender with chicken stock,
ginger, yogurt, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend very briefly, then heat to just under
the boiling point. Serve hot or cold, with sprigs of fresh watercress as a garnish.
SALADS . Add sprigs of watercress to a mixed green salad or a plate of sliced tomatoes
fresh from your garden, the whole lightly dressed with vinaigrette — very refreshing
on a hot day.
CHINESE-STYLE . Since the Chinese tend not to use raw vegetables (unless they've been
pickled) watercress is often fried. To make this, quickly stir-fry ginger and garlic in
peanut oil, then add watercress, a few tablespoons of chicken stock, a little sherry, and