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Home / Cuisine / Chinese / Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup)

Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup)

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · Published: 🖨 November 23, 2021 · Updated: 💻November 23, 2021 · 🗨 2 Comments

Recipe ▼

Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup) is a slow boil, clear, and nourishing soup. It is very popular among the Malaysian Chinese.

Nutritious and soothing Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup).

Slow boiled and nourishing Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup) is very, very popular among the Malaysian Chinese. Many consider this soup as a remedy for coughs and colds. Whatever the case may be, it is certainly a very tasty and soothing soup.

Slow boiled soups are very easy to prepare and this one is no exception. You only need 3 ingredients (not counting water) – watercress, red dates/jujubes, and pork ribs to cook this soup. All the ingredients are simply combined in a pot with water and boiled over low heat for about 2 hours. You can use chicken instead of pork if preferred.

Warm and nourishing Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup).

Sai Yong Choy (Watercress)

In Malaysia, the Sai Yong Choy is of a larger species. The stems are longer and thicker. Over here in the US, watercress is sold in tiny bunches, all nicely trimmed. One bunch weighs approximately 8 ounces (225g) and is sufficient to make a pot of soup for 4 persons. You can use 2 bunches for a more concentrated flavor.

Raw watercress is bright green in color with crunchy stems and a slight peppery taste. They turn an olive green color and become very soft after boiling at which point all their goodness is transferred to the soup. You can still eat the vegetable or discard it altogether but most people would serve some of it together with the soup.

Bright green watercress boiled with red dates/jujubes and pork bones.

Goji/Wolf Berries – Optional

Some families like a little goji/wolf berries to the soup. Simply add the rinsed goji berries to the soup 5 minutes before turning off the stove. We do not usually do that in our family but you are certainly welcomed to do so if you like. Red dates/jujubes on the other hand is a must to provide a little sweetness to the soup.

Similar Tools Used in Making This Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup)

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Stockpot with Cover, 6-Quart
Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
Winco UT-9 Coiled Spring Heavyweight Stainless Steel Utility Tong, 9-Inch
Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Skimmer for Skimming Grease and Foam

Nutritious and soothing Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup).
Print Pin Rate
5 from 1 vote

Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup)

Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup) is a slow boil, clear, and nourishing soup. It is very popular among the Malaysian Chinese.
Author : Linda Ooi
Course : Soup
Cuisine : Chinese
Keyword : sai yong choy tong, watercress soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 110kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 bunch sai yong choy / watercress, trimmed and washed (½ lb / 225g)
  • 1 lb pork neck bones or pork ribs (450g)
  • 12 red dates / jujubes rinsed and soaked for 15 minutes

Instructions
 

  • Fill a large pot half full of water. Bring to a boil. Add pork neck bones or ribs. Allow it to blanch for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove with thongs and rinse in cold water.
  • Discard water in pot and fill with 10 cups (2.4 liters) of fresh water. Bring to a boil.
  • Add blanched neck bones (ribs), red dates, and watercress. Bring water back up to a boil. Reduce heat to low and allow soup to simmer for 1½ to 2 hours. Skim off any scum appearing on the surface.
  • Season with salt to taste and turn off heat.
  • Serve warm in individual bowls.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @MalaysianChineseKitchen or tag #MalaysianChineseKitchen

Serving up a bowl of Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup).

A Soothing and Comforting Soup

You seldom find this Watercress Soup outside of home. It is a light, soothing, and comforting soup and I urge you to give it a try if you have never tasted it. I served it with rice and Kong Tau Yew Bak (Braised Pork in Soy Sauce with tofu cubes instead of hard boiled eggs this time. This truly is home cooking at its best.

Sai Yong Choy Tong (Watercress Soup) served with rice and braised pork in soy sauce.

NOTE: The original publication of this post was on June 2nd, 2017. This republication comes with minor changes to the writeup. The recipe remains unchanged.

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Categories: 🗂 Chinese, Soup, Vegetables, Video Recipes Tags: 📋 watercress

About Linda

Linda is a food writer and photographer who hails from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She now lives in Wyoming, USA. Her other blogs are Roti n Rice and Tea Tattler.

Malaysian Chinese Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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Comments

  1. Elaine says

    December 15, 2017 at 4:06 am

    Hi Linda,
    I have tried your watercress soup recipe but my turnout taste a little bit bitter .

    Reply
  2. Winston Chan says

    April 10, 2019 at 8:12 am

    5 stars
    Love this soup and used to drink this when young staying in my hometown Singapore.

    Reply

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