A Singaporean Mum

It’s the PSLE season, and that means it’s time to supercharge my eldest’s nutritional level. She’s already sick of the usual herbal chicken soup that’s said to “boost intelligence levels” (not sure if that really works 🤔). So this week, I decided to switch things up with a pot of nourishing watercress soup instead.

Did you know watercress is a powerhouse green? 🌿 Packed with vitamin C to support immunity, vitamin K for healthy bones, and rich in antioxidants that help the body fight stress and fatigue — it’s the perfect brain-food companion for exam season.

Here’s how I do it!

Ingredients

500g pork ribs, blanched and rinsed

1 pack watercress, cleaned thoroughly

3 red dates

1.5–2 liters water

Salt to taste

Optional additions:

1 honey dates (for extra sweetness)

Method

1. Prepare the soup base

• In a large pot, add 1.5–2 liters of water and bring to a boil.

• Add the blanched pork ribs, watercress, red dates, and honey dates, if using.

2. Simmer the broth

• Once boiling, lower the heat to a gentle simmer.

• Cover partially and simmer for about 1–1.5 hours, until the pork ribs are tender and the broth is sweet.

3. Season and serve

• Taste the soup and add salt to your preference.

• Serve hot with rice.