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Vietnamese Meatball and Watercress Soup (Canh)

Vietnamese Meatball and Watercress Soup (Canh)

“This is my favorite Milk Street soup recipe,” a reader writes of this Vietnamese pork meatball soup: a bright green bowl of juicy, tender pork with a complex background of fish sauce, scallions, garlic, ginger and lime juice.

By Diane UngerAugust 7, 2017

  • Makes
    4 servings
  • Cook Time
    40 minutes
  • Rating

Watercress adds a peppery note to the soup; look for “live” watercress, which is packaged with its roots attached. It stays fresher longer and is easier to clean. To prep it, trim off and discard the roots, rinse and drain the greens, then cut them into 1½-inch lengths, discarding any stems that are thick or tough. If you prefer, substitute an equal amount of baby spinach for the watercress, but roughly chop the leaves before using. We also liked this soup made with chicken bouillon paste instead of chicken broth; use 2 tablespoons of paste dissolved in 2 quarts of water.

Tip

Don't leave the meatballs at room temperature after shaping them. Chilling firms them so they hold together when added to the simmering broth.

Ingredients
  • 1

    pound ground pork

  • 6

    scallions, white parts finely chopped, green parts thinly sliced

  • 1

    large egg white, lightly beaten

  • 3

    tablespoons fish sauce, divided

  • 4

    teaspoons grated fresh ginger, divided

  • Kosher salt and ground white pepper

  • 2

    tablespoons grapeseed oil

  • 1

    medium yellow onion, chopped

  • 4

    medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced

  • 2

    quarts low-sodium chicken broth (8 cups)

  • 1

    bunch watercress, cut into 1½-inch lengths (4 cups lightly packed)

  • 2

    tablespoons lime juice (1 or 2 limes)

Step 1

Line a rimmed baking sheet with kitchen parchment and mist with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine the pork, scallion whites, egg white, 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce, 2 teaspoons of the ginger, 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon white pepper.

Mix with your hands. Lightly moisten your hands with water and form into 20 balls, each about a generous tablespoon, and set on the prepared baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate.

Step 2

In a large Dutch oven over medium, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons ginger and the garlic, then cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the broth and bring to a boil over high. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the onion is fully softened, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Add the meatballs, bring to a simmer over medium-high, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cook undisturbed until the meatballs are cooked through, 160°F at the center, 8 to 10 minutes; cut through a meatball to check for doneness.

Off heat, stir in the watercress and remaining 2 tablespoons fish sauce. Let stand until the greens are wilted and tender, about 1 minute. Stir in the lime juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper, then stir in the scallion greens.

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