Watercress Soup
Classy, Delicate or Hearty... But Equally Tasty
Fat-free and packed with minerals and antioxidants - watercress is often hailed as the "new" superfood. You can find it in posh roast beef sandwiches, reclining next to roast chicken and in all manner of ready-packed salad bags. And TV chefs love it, of course.
But if you think we've only just discovered it, then you're wrong. Watercress has been grown for centuries along Hampshire's clean chalk streams.
Vast quantities of it were shipped to London's famous Covent Garden market after the arrival of the railways made speedy transport possible.
And if you visit Alresford in Hampshire, you can still travel on the Watercress Line, the railway that popularised watercress in Victorian London.
The Victorians, who knew a good thing when they saw it, took to the fresh peppery taste almost immediately. But they did not restrict watercress to sandwich fillings and salads.
They loved soups, too, and watercress soup - which can be either hearty, delicate or downright classy - was right up their street. Check out these easy recipes:
- Classy Starter ... impressive enough for a dinner party.
- Light lunch ... when you need a little me-time.
- Hearty lunch ... post-gardening pick-me-up
And do you need to be a kitchen wizard to make it? Not at all. Making watercress soup usually just requires ingredients, a pot and a little bit of patience.
What you do need, though, is a nice set of soup bowls to serve your watercress soup ... just to show off the wonderful colour.
 |
I'm slowly becoming a purist when it comes to soup bowls, and this Soup and Sandwich combo caught my eye in the latest Lakeland catalogue.
Beautiful white china and space to put the sandwiches. This is a great idea for serving lunch... and not just when you're having friends round. Just treat yourself |
And if you don't have the time or confidence to make your own?
Well, you could always cheat and use this Cuisinart Soup Maker to make your soup.
This machine does the lot, from browning your veg, to cooking and blending the soup. No mess, no fuss, and only one pot to wash ...
Perhaps not the most traditional of ways to make soup, but wonderfully suited to today's busy lifestyles. If you like real home-made soup, check this out...
