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vanessafrida
vanessafrida
21 July 2008 @ 11:52
Fish & Watercress soup  



I grew up on a different version of watercress soup.  The authentic Chinese version uses pork bones and red dates for the stock.  Because I had some fish stock sitting in the freezer, all ready to be used, I made a variation of it.  A healthier version. 

 

I was pleasantly surprised that the soup turned out so well.  It was so good, I had to share.  This version is a quick whip up after work.  The night before, take the soup stock out of the freezer, marinate some fish slices, and you can have a nice soup with rice after work within 15 minutes.  A one dish meal.

 

The watercress complimented the soup base, and the fish was very smooth.  The egg white coating was very unique, and it is my first time trying it.  I have to say I will be coating my fish for soups like this in the future!  Now…I just need to think up a way of using up the egg yolks.

 

 

Ingredients:

3 cups of good fish stock (you can use other stocks if you like)

100g firm white fish fillet, skin off and cut to bite size

2 egg whites

1 tablespoon corn flour

1 tablespoon Chinese wine

1 cup watercress, washed well

Soya sauce to taste

 

Method:

1)       Bring the fish stock to a rolling boil.

2)       In the meantime, whisk the egg white, corn flour and Chinese wine together till you have a smooth paste.

3)       Coat the fish well with the egg mixture, and place it into the stock one at the time.  

4)       Allow the soup to boil for 5 minutes.

5)       Add the watercress, and let it boil for another 5 minutes.

6)       Add soya sauce if it is needed.  

7)       Serve with steamed white rice.  Enjoy!




The watercress


the egg white mixture


The fish cut up


Soup ready


Click here to see how I made my stock

 

 
 
Current Mood: hungry
 
44 comments | Leave a comment
 
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anita_margarita[info]anita_margarita on 21st July 2008 04:09 (UTC)
That sounds really good! I love fish but I know so many people who wouldn't touch it if you paid them... which is their loss.

When you say "Chinese wine," what is that? Is it a slightly sweet wine like sherry, or mirin, or what?
vanessafrida: Yes Sir[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:12 (UTC)
I love fish..though growing up i must admit i hated it hehehe.

Chinese wine is a rice wine....erm you can get it at asian supermarkets...splurge and get a small bottle...should be around US$5. heaps of stuff needs that stuff...:)...chinese cooking anyway...gives a great flavour...it is tough to describe

anita_margarita[info]anita_margarita on 21st July 2008 04:40 (UTC)
OK, rice wine should be easy to find in a large liquor store here. I was in an Asian market the other day for sesame oil, chili-garlic paste; sambal oelek, etc., and they had some products that looked kind of like what I wanted, but it wasn't labeled clearly. I'll keep checking.
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:43 (UTC)
They should be labelled Hua Tiao Jio or Shao Xing Jio...i hope that helps :)
anita_margarita[info]anita_margarita on 21st July 2008 04:44 (UTC)
That DOES help, thank you!
crankymike[info]crankymike on 21st July 2008 04:09 (UTC)
Make the "three non stick" with the yolks. Just cook fish soup 12 more times.....
vanessafrida: Beach Bum[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:12 (UTC)
very funny ya
(Anonymous) on 21st July 2008 04:14 (UTC)
Thanks! I am so trying this.
vanessafrida: Yes Sir[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:18 (UTC)
do tell me how you go :)
All things merit my attention and nothing holds it[info]moxielass on 21st July 2008 04:18 (UTC)
use the egg yolk for dessert making? i cook mine the traditional way. water cress, pork ribs n red dates. simmer 1.5hrs-2hrs n doesnt req to season the soup.

btw, havent thank u for the email u sent. i was pondering over the email... :)
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:26 (UTC)
Hmmm.... dessert....idea...thanks! As for the pork ribs...that is really good too. Just that I wanted a "healthier" version hehehe

Email? crap...you need to refresh my memory...i am so swamped I am so forgetful.
All things merit my attention and nothing holds it[info]moxielass on 21st July 2008 04:48 (UTC)
aiyah, the email on marriage stuff.
vanessafrida: Yes Sir[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:52 (UTC)
oh! wanna email me your thoughts?
lowd[info]lowdnoise on 21st July 2008 04:35 (UTC)
Egg yolks? Can make ice cream! :)
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:36 (UTC)
i dun have a ice cream maker :(
lowd[info]lowdnoise on 21st July 2008 04:37 (UTC)
I've actually come across some recipes that don't require you to church the ice cream. Need to find out which ones they are, can forward you the recipes when i've found out :)
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 04:39 (UTC)
thank you so much!
All things merit my attention and nothing holds it[info]moxielass on 21st July 2008 04:49 (UTC)
apparently u can use salt. 2 bags, the ice cream solution in the inner bag. the outer bag put in a lot of salt. shake the whole thing till the ice cream is formed. i saw the recipe but never tried it.
No No, I am a real mad scientist....[info]christhegoth on 21st July 2008 05:01 (UTC)
Nice. I made Catfish Chow-Mein yesterday. First time. Really nice as well. I prefer Catfish to cheekan now. No battery farms involved and a very similar great flavour. More tender as well so works well with chinese and asian food.
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 21st July 2008 05:02 (UTC)
warning though about catfish...i am not sure if it is a old wives tale. I have been told that we shouldnt eat too much of it...cos it causes kiloid (sp) problems...where wounds heal with a bump?
No No, I am a real mad scientist....[info]christhegoth on 21st July 2008 05:09 (UTC)
Blimey. I'll bear that in mind :)
Little Miss Sunshine.[info]tiffanyx on 21st July 2008 11:25 (UTC)
ahhh comfort food!! =)

will try it soon!
nivekout[info]nivekout on 21st July 2008 11:49 (UTC)
SoUp
Find the egg white idea very good and will use next time I make soup with fish.Very nice to find bits of great information here!Xiexie!
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 01:18 (UTC)
Re: SoUp
you are most welcome...i just learnt abt that too...so sharing :)
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 21st July 2008 17:18 (UTC)
the watercress looks different from what im used to(hard to tell coz its in the bag). i normally have them raw and the stems are really thin. oh and i love how they've put down 'Selada Air' lol.

as for the egg yolks, you could make ice cream but if you dont have a churner(like me), use double cream. because the cream is so thick, u dont really have to fork through it every hour and it wont form massive ice crystals. i like making my own custard and often make that with left over egg yolks instead of icecream. though i would loved to have been able to drop the egg yolk into the hot soup and cook it for a while before putting it on my rice(so that its soft). i love a soft egg yolk in soup:)
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 01:26 (UTC)
hmmm....egg drop soup! Oh man! now i have a craving for that...i should try making that soon!

Hmmm....thanks for the tip on the ice cream....maybe i will try making green tea ice cream then :)

Water cres that i got is what I grew up with....the stems are thickish...and i remember as a child using it as a straw for my soup.....cos the middle is hollow :)
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 22nd July 2008 08:12 (UTC)
lol, i think i might be making that tomorrow. i just love egg and soup and noodles!

aww how cute! i'll need to look in the chinese supermarket to see if they have it there. it reminds me of something, but i just cant figure out what.
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 08:17 (UTC)
hahaha bet it is bugging you then :)
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 22nd July 2008 08:20 (UTC)
lol it is! my memory is getting from bad to worse. recently i forgot what i was going to say in mid sentence! i need to start back on my yoga.
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 08:25 (UTC)
does that help? yoga?
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 22nd July 2008 09:04 (UTC)
oh yea! ive been doing yoga since i was like 3+ and i can totally see the difference when i stop(i get lazy and stop for a few months lol). there's lots of different yoga exercises that help with everyday things; to improve eyesight, help ur memory, when u have a cold and want to get rid of the phelm stuck at the back of ur throat and even constipation! often when im talking to my mom and i say, 'my heads been hurting all day today' and she'll reply with 'ohh, you need to....'(some yoga exercise) lol
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 09:06 (UTC)
wow....that is so interesting!
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 22nd July 2008 09:15 (UTC)
its really incredible just how much of a difference a few yoga exercises can make. a few years ago and fell and hurt my bum bone and being me, i of course didnt bother to see the doctor and didnt bother to do any yoga(im putting it down to being young and stupid lol). it got so bad i could hardly walk properly. so i finally went to see the doc and she refered me for physio. the physiotherapist said my pelvis was tilted and gave me a set of exercises to do at home everyday to help with the condition but she warned that it might never be cured totally. the exercises she gave me, all yoga! so u can imagine what my mom said when i told her. *shakes head* mother knows best eh?
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 09:20 (UTC)
i have been nagged by various doctors not to pick up yoga cos I have a prolapse disc though :(
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 22nd July 2008 09:50 (UTC)
no oh, i can only imagine the pain. yea, best to stick to the doctor's advice coz the spine is constantly stretched in yoga and it really helps with building lower back muscles(perfect for my aliment). maybe pilates would be better for you?
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 09:53 (UTC)
yea i think so too...and swimming :)
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 22nd July 2008 10:09 (UTC)
ywa swimming is meant to be really good (low impact and all that). if i had my own swimming pool, id definitely go more often. hate public pools of any kind. if i have to share it with more than 5 people, i get digusted. i cant stop thinking about germs lol
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 22nd July 2008 10:15 (UTC)
hahahaha my problem is i hate cold water...so getting in the pool is a chore.
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 23rd July 2008 14:22 (UTC)
lol, need to get one of those heated indoor/outdoor pools like on cribs! (once i win the lottery!)
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 24th July 2008 02:21 (UTC)
can i pls be invited over??
Foodie Corner[info]takayanagi on 25th July 2008 13:46 (UTC)
oh course! if i win the lottery, i'll even build a private entry bit for u, and u can pre-program what temp u want the pool to be!
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 28th July 2008 02:14 (UTC)
can! i will cook the meals!
(Anonymous) on 24th July 2008 03:55 (UTC)
What would be considered as a good fish stock?
Cath
vanessafrida[info]vanessafrida on 24th July 2008 04:11 (UTC)
erm a fish based stock that is already full of flavour. I used my Yong Tau Foo Soup Stock recipe

http://vanessafrida.livejournal.com/252948.html