Watercress. What to do with it?

[intrepidity]

So I was at an Asian grocery store, and they had bunches of green herby things in bags, and it turns out I inadvertantly bought 3 bunches of watercress (thinking it may be some sort of basil or mint, which I was actually looking for, and got).

My current purpose is in a Thai red curry. But, i tasted the watercress and it was somewhat bitterish. What do people use it for?

The upside to the trip was I got several bags of unknown but interesting tasting herbs, that I have yet to identify.

But wondering what to do with 3 bunches of watercress? TIA

[Tetrachloride]

1. Try stir fry a sample

[chowder66]

2. I just mix it in with salad greens but

I’ve heard of watercress tea and soup. Google watercress recipes for more ideas.

Happy eating!

[intrepidity]

4. Hmm if I just add it to the curry, do you think it will mess it up?

I'm basically slow-cooking a pot of curry to freeze. Right now it tastes really good. It's like 5 quarts. Will the watercress just meld in and play together?

[chowder66]

7. I couldn't say.

I don’t think it’s hearty enough to stand up to it. It could change the flavor but I think it might be a little odd in texture.

[diva77]

3. Have a tea party with Victorian Water Cress Tea Sandwiches!

Victorian Watercress Tea Sandwiches for High Tea and Picnics

https://www.food.com/recipe/victorian-watercress-tea-sandwiches-for-high-tea-and-picnics-412074

"During Victorian times, children used to take watercress sandwiches to school in place of meat ones. I love them, especially when cut into small trianges and served with a cuppa (cup of tea!). Use the freshest bread - I like to use wholemeal, and a fresh salted farmhouse butter. I have included a soup idea at the end of the recipe, to be made with the excess stalks! So a soup and sandwich recipe then!"
SNIP

[recipe at link]

[Retrograde]

10. I've made watercress and cucumber sandwiches

for teas (on whole wheat bread, with the crusts cut off for daintiness). It's a bit peppery, so using a small amount in curries or stir-fries would be interesting.

[fierywoman]

5. Italians would mix in a tiny bit of the bitter leaf (torn) into a predominantly sweet salad

(ex.: butter lettuce -- or romaine or red leaf, etc.) with a vinaigrette dressing. Proportions so that every few bites you'd get a little hit of the bitter.
Watercress soup would be a classic -- I've never made it, but imagine it would be creamy.
I bet there's a pesto recipe.
By the time you take the leaves off the stalks there's not a whole lot left.

[niyad]

6. An episode of Julia Child's "The French Chef" was about watercress soup.

Also, little tea sandwiches.

[werdna]

8. This may give you a few ideas

https://www.foodandwine.com/vegetables/greens/watercress/watercress

[markodochartaigh]

9. I like watercress enough to make a salad of it.

If one of your mystery greens happens to be Viet Namese coriander it is incredibly easy to root, and grow in water. You can have it forever.

https://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/herbs/vietnamese-coriander/

[intrepidity]

13. Yay! Yes, that is one of them!

I took pics that I was going to research later, but you beat me to it. That definitely got added to the curry.

There are still a couple mysteries, both are like broadleaf grasses, I suspect one may be ramps, which I've only heard about but never tried; but the minute I tasted it, my brain just lit up and said "ramps." Gotta verify.

Thank you!

[parkia00]

11. Make a wonderful Cantonese Pork Rib Soup

Bunch of recipes on Google.

[intrepidity]

12. Oh my. Perfect!

Never heard of it, great suggestion, thank you!

https://thewoksoflife.com/chinese-watercress-soup-pork/