If you’re in need of a quick, tasty meal – look no further than this pork watercress soup! I know most of y’all are busy folks with overflowing commitments – and if you’re like me, you probably love living life to the fullest, but know it can feel a little nuts at times. That’s why I love when I can share a recipe like this. It’s a less-stress, easy-to-make option that makes nights less crazy and more cozy. Hopefully it gives you a few more minutes to relax or do something you love!
Disclosure: This shop was originally compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.
Note: This recipe was originally published in 2018. The post has been updated in 2026.
Featured Reader Feedback
“Great comfort food for rainy nights. I like it gingery so I add in a bit extra along with a chicken bullion to liven it up a bit. I also put in a couple of eggplants sliced thinly and tofu. Oh I I added a couple tablespoonfuls of ahoy sauce. What a classic hearty dish. It was gone in no time. Thanks I’ll use this recipe again and again.” — Belinda ★★★★★
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only takes about 30 minutes to cook
- Involves minimal ingredients – just 8 total, including oil!
- High in protein (key for active folks to support muscle repair and recovery)
- Good source of several vitamins and minerals
- Low carb option if that’s your thing (it’s not mine – I need those healthy carbs to support an active lifestyle! – but I mention it for those of y’all interested in that style of eating)
I’m also excited to showcase this recipe as it contains two ingredients many people don’t traditionally associate with soup – fresh pork and watercress. The pork and watercress combo is actually a very common pairing in many Asian cultures (though this recipe is by no means any type of authentic version stemming from that).
Ingredient Notes: Pork Shortcut
This is a quick and easy soup option using a Smithfield Roasted Garlic & Herb Fresh Pork Loin Filet. Using this pre-seasoned pork helps reduce the time needed to develop complex flavors in the soup.
Most people think the only way to cook a pork loin filet is to roast it whole, but you can totally chop it up and sauté it like I do in this soup! This allows it to come together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredient Notes: Watercress
And then there’s the tasty watercress in the soup. If you’re not familiar with watercress, it’s actually an aquatic leafy green, meaning that it’s adapted to growth in water-based environments. You’ll typically find it stocked in bags to keep some moisture in as it waits to be sold at the store.
You may also see something that looks like watercress sold in bunches with roots still attached. This is typically upland cress, a look-a-like plant that has thinner stems and a more delicate texture. Either works fine in this recipe!
The watercress adds a spicy, peppery flavor – somewhat similar to arugula. Watercress releases a bit more flavor when cooked compared to arugula, and also has a bit of a different texture. And bonus, a cup is packed with more than 20% of the daily value for Vitamins A and C!
The peppery watercress with the garlicy pork and umami-packed mushrooms all come together to form a flavor-filled bowl of deliciousness. I think this is a winner for the whole family.
More High Protein Dinner Ideas
If you’re looking for more high protein dinner ideas that are easy to make, I have some favorites here on the blog. This sheet pan steak and veggies meal is a great one, since you toss everything on one (or two) pans and cook it all in the oven. If you’re in the mood for another soup, you could try this lemon ginger chicken soup, which is great in the winter months – especially if you might be feeling a little under the weather. Or if you want a quick skillet meal, try this ground pork stir fry with green beans and mushrooms.
I hope you enjoy this recipe. If you get a chance to try it, feel free to leave a recipe rating or review below. And keep in mind this packs a great lunch for the next day, whether you want to serve it solo, over rice, or tossed with rice noodles!
Pork Watercress Soup
Ingredients
- 1.25 lb Smithfield Roasted Garlic & Herb Fresh Pork Loin Filet (about half of a larger one)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8- oz package of portabella mushrooms, sliced
- 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tbsp)
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 3 cups watercress or upland cress, thick stems removed
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Meanwhile, chop pork into one-inch pieces. When oil is hot, add pork and sauté. Turn pieces occasionally, until the pork is golden on all sides – about 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms, ginger, and garlic. Sauté for another minute.
- Add chicken broth. Simmer for 10 minutes, until mushrooms are tender and pork is cooked through.
- Stir in scallions and watercress. Cook for 1-2 minutes until watercress is lightly wilted, then serve!
Notes
- At the time of publish, this soup is free of the top 8 allergens (including dairy and soy) and is gluten-free. However, product formulations can always change so I recommend checking the labels if you have any allergy questions.
- This soup also fits the needs of low carbohydrate and keto diets. Most paleo proponents would classify this as paleo friendly, however note that there is a very small amount of dextrose in the pork marinade.
Nutrition
Please pin this post to save for later and share with others!
- Pizza Roses with Homemade Sweetpotato Dough - February 3, 2026
- Vegetarian Buffalo Dip - January 23, 2026
- Sweetpotato Granola - January 16, 2026
his looks like a wonderful dinner or lunch!
Thanks Sara!
I’m always looking for new ways to use pork loin! It’s such a tasty cut of meat. This looks delicious and I’m a carb-lover too so love the idea of adding rice.
I’m with you – bring on the rice or noodles! 😉
I love how quick this soup is to make!
Thanks Sandi!
I don’t eat pork but was wondering if I could easily replace the pork with chicken breast instead? Sounds like a nice light soup.
We’re big pork fans, but you could definitely replace with chicken if you’d like!
This PORK WATERCRESS SOUP is one of the most loved in my family! We especially love it during the cold winter months. Pinned for later!
Awesome! So glad to hear that 🙂
Salted turnip is the secret to this recipe.
Love that addition!
Great comfort food for rainy nights. I like it gingery so I add in a bit extra along with a chicken bullion to liven it up a bit. I also put in a couple of eggplants sliced thinly and tofu. Oh I I added a couple tablespoonfuls of ahoy sauce. What a classic hearty dish. It was gone in no time. Thanks I’ll use this recipe again and again.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and add your great modifications – yum! Glad you are enjoying it. 🙂