Watercress is a herbaceous plant that grows wild in moist places such as ponds, lakes, and rice fields. It grows year-round and is found in all provinces from the South to the North.

Depending on the region, watercress has other names such as pennywort, single-cold watercress, devil's cham grass, like cham grass, cuong hoa grass or single-kim vegetable.

This vegetable has good vitality. The seeds are small and easy to disperse, so when conditions are suitable, they will grow into plants and spread everywhere. Especially after the rains, the vegetables become greener.

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Watercress is naturally distributed throughout the mountainous provinces, midlands and plains. In addition to being used as food, watercress is also grown to decorate rockery. Photo: Huong Dia

Because the vegetable grows naturally and is used as an ingredient in many popular dishes in many localities, people jokingly call it a "heaven-sent" specialty.

Currently, watercress is grown in some places, including the northern provinces such as Lao Cai and Ha Giang . However, the naturally grown type is considered to be of better quality than the cultivated type.

Thanks to its unique and clean taste, water spinach is considered a "heaven-sent" specialty from the South to the North, attracting customers to buy and enjoy. Photo: Hao Phung

Ms. Minh Thu - a trader in Cau Giay district ( Hanoi ) said that in Vietnam, water spinach is present in all 3 regions, most in the South because the weather conditions here are very favorable for this vegetable to grow and develop.

Watercress can be harvested at any time of the year but is most popular in summer and spring because of its sour, refreshing taste, suitable for eating to cool down and relieve boredom.

Depending on the location, water spinach is sold for 30,000-40,000 VND/kg. However, when transported to big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this vegetable costs up to 90,000-100,000 VND/kg but is still "in demand" to buy and enjoy.

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Watercress is simple to prepare but has an unforgettable flavor. Photo: Wife's Kitchen

According to Ms. Thu, water spinach is used fresh, just remove the roots, wash it and it can be eaten immediately or processed into some attractive dishes. When eaten raw, the vegetable has a slightly sour, cool and crunchy taste.

“Crabgrass can be eaten raw or made into salads like other familiar wild vegetables and herbs. However, the most popular dish made from this vegetable is beef salad,” said Ms. Thu.

This woman said that water spinach grows naturally so it is safe, just wash it with water a few times and drain. After marinating the beef, stir-fry it in a hot pan with fried garlic.

Watercress salad with beef. Photo: Esheep Kitchen

When the beef is just cooked, scoop it out, let it cool, then mix. If you mix it while the meat is still hot, the water spinach will be undercooked, making the dish look less attractive and less delicious.

Water spinach salad with beef is often sprinkled with crushed roasted peanuts and eaten with sweet and sour fish sauce. The sour taste of the crispy vegetables blends with the rich flavor of the beef and the fatty taste of the peanuts, making anyone who eats it once remember it forever.

Not only used in salads, water spinach is also used as a raw vegetable. Southerners often eat this vegetable with green cabbage, mango shoots, herbs, etc. when enjoying banh cong and banh xeo.

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In Oriental medicine, water spinach has a cold and sour taste. Photo: Quynh Nhu Pham

According to physician Vu Quoc Trung (Hanoi Oriental Medicine Association), watercress not only has a delicious, unique flavor but is also rich in nutrients. This vegetable contains high fiber content, which helps prevent cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.

In addition, minerals such as potassium and magnesium in water spinach also help control blood pressure, reduce blood fat, reduce blood sugar, and prevent complications of cardiovascular disease.

However, watercress contains a lot of water and is a diuretic, so it should be limited to eating at night. People with allergies, asthma, and a history of asthma should avoid using this vegetable.

People with cold bodies and cold hands and feet should also be careful and consider before eating dishes made from water spinach.

After more than 2 years of bringing Binh Dinh's famous jumping shrimp pancake to Hanoi, My and her husband's restaurant has a stable number of customers. Each day, the two establishments can sell 1,000 pancakes.