Watercress Chicken Soup (lean, halal)

0/3

Work top to bottom — prep ahead while timers run

Gather everything first, then follow the steps

Protein· 1

  • 100 g chicken breast (sliced)100g

Vegetables· 3

  • 120 g watercress (washed, cut into lengths)120g
  • 50 g carrot (cut into chunks)50g
  • 8 g ginger (sliced)8g

Spices· 3

  • 4 g chicken stock cube (~½ cube)(staple)4g
  • pinch of white pepper(staple)1g
  • pinch of salt(staple)2g
  1. 8 min · hands-free

    Add about 500 ml water to a pot with the ginger and carrot, bring to a boil over high heat, then lower to medium and cook 8 min.

    Why? Simmering the ginger and carrot first builds the base of a clear broth — the carrot lends natural sweetness in place of the original's honey dates, while ginger warms and removes any off-notes, with no need for sugar or a fatty bone stock.
    08:00

    Next up:Stir in the half stock cube, add the sliced chicken breast and cook over medium heat for 3–4 min until just cooked and opaque.

  2. Stir in the half stock cube, add the sliced chicken breast and cook over medium heat for 3–4 min until just cooked and opaque.

    Why? Thin slices of chicken breast cook gently and stay tender in 3–4 min. Swapping lean chicken for pork ribs leaves the surface almost free of floating fat while keeping every bit of the protein — a big cut in fat calories per serving.

    Tip: The stock cube is already salty — taste the broth before adding any salt so it doesn't turn out too salty.

    Next up:Add the watercress and cook over medium heat for another 3–4 min until the leaves soften and the broth turns green; season with salt and white pepper.

  3. Add the watercress and cook over medium heat for another 3–4 min until the leaves soften and the broth turns green; season with salt and white pepper.

    Why? Watercress softens quickly and gives the broth a sweet, faintly bittersweet finish; overcook it and the colour yellows and nutrients leach away. Adding it last for a short 3–4 min keeps the soup clear-tasting and preserves its water-soluble vitamins.

    Tip: Sip it hot for the most soothing effect — a bowl before your meal takes the edge off and trims your main portion.