Chinese Watercress With Garlic Stir Fry 西洋菜

Have you ever cooked with watercress? This Chinese Watercress With Garlic Stir Fry (西洋菜) is one of the easiest-and tastiest-ways to enjoy it. It's a quick veggie dish I grew up eating at home, and it's packed with vitamins A and C. If you're looking for a simple, healthy side dish to switch up your usual dinner routine, this is such a good one!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Chinese Watercress Stir Fry
• About the Ingredients
• How to Stir Fry Chinese Watercress (Step by Step)
• Storage & Reheat
• FAQ
• Chinese Watercress With Garlic Stir Fry Recipe
• More Delicious Chinese Veggie Recipes!
• Pin for later!

Why You'll Love This Chinese Watercress Stir Fry

• Super quick - This whole dish cooks in under 5-7 minutes, making it one of the fastest veggie sides you can add to any meal.
• Nutritious - Watercress is packed with vitamins A, C, and antioxidants, and cooking it with garlic makes it even more flavorful.
• Simple, clean ingredients - Just garlic, oil, watercress, and salt (plus an optional splash of soy sauce). No complicated steps or sauces.
• A classic Chinese home-style dish - This is exactly the kind of veggie my family cooked all the time in Taiwan. Cozy, comforting, and familiar.
• Pairs with everything - Works with rice bowls, noodles, stir-fried meats, tofu dishes, soups, and more.
• Beginner-friendly - If you've never cooked watercress before, this is the easiest way to start!

About the Ingredients

Here's some extra info about the ingredients if you are intersted:

About Chinese Watercress

Watercress in Chinese is Xi Yang Cai or 西洋菜.  Which actually directly translates to "Western Vegetable" (mandarin Chinese).

Why?  Because around the 1930s, a Chinese man visited Portugal to do business, when he came back to his home in Guangzhou, he brought some watercress seeds with him. It became  popular, often stir fried or cooked in soups.  Since it was from a western country, everyone called it "western vegetable".  There's also some crazy legend about how that Chinese business man actually fell super ill and nothing cured him until he started eating this veggie... I don't know how much of that is true...

TL;DR version:  Because it came from the Western world.

If you're interested in learning more about Chinese veggies - check out my article all about the various veggies here!

What Watercress Tastes Like

Watercress has a peppery, slightly bitter flavor with tender stems and leaves. It cooks down quickly-like spinach or pea shoots-and becomes mild, juicy, and super flavorful in stir-fries.

Be sure to trim off tough root ends and rinse well since it grows close to the ground and can be sandy.

1 lb is the perfect amount for a family-style stir fry (much more accurate than "2 bunches," since bunch sizes vary!)

Garlic

Garlic is a must for this dish-its aroma mellows out the natural sharpness of the greens. You can slice, chop, or smash the cloves. Smashing = stronger garlic flavor (my favorite for this dish).

Oil

A neutral high-heat oil works best:

• Avocado oil
• Canola oil
• Vegetable oil
• Peanut oil

Avoid sesame oil here - save that for finishing, not high-heat stir-frying.

Salt

A simple sprinkle is all the seasoning you need. Adjust based on your taste and the saltiness of any added soy sauce.

Soy Sauce (Optional)

Adding 1 tablespoon soy sauce gives the stir fry extra savoriness and a lightly seasoned finish. Some families add it, some don't - both versions are delicious.

You can add it:

• Right after uncovering the wok
• Or drizzle it at the end and toss to coat

How to Stir Fry Chinese Watercress (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon cooking oil
• 5 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 bunches watercress (about 1 lb), trimmed and rinsed
• Salt, as desired
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional)

Prep the garlic. You can slice or roughly mash it (I like to smash for more flavor!).

Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat.

Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Add the watercress, cover with a lid, and let it steam for about 1 minute. 

Uncover, add soy sauce if using and salt to taste. Stir fry for another 1-2 minutes until wilted and tender.

Serve hot!

Storage & Reheat

How to Store Chinese Watercress Stir Fry

This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored:

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
• Freezer: Not recommended - leafy greens like watercress become mushy after thawing.

How to Reheat

Because watercress cooks very quickly, reheating should be gentle:

• Stovetop (best): Reheat in a hot pan for 30-60 seconds until just warmed.
• Microwave: Works, but will make the texture softer - microwave 15-20 seconds at a time to avoid overcooking.

Avoid reheating more than once; the greens get very soft.

FAQ

Why did my watercress turn dark or mushy?

Overcooking is the main reason. Watercress wilts fast-1-2 minutes is all you need. Also avoid reheating too long.

Can I add protein to this dish?

Definitely. This stir fry pairs well with shrimp, tofu, chicken, or thinly sliced pork-but cook the protein separately, then toss with the watercress at the end to avoid overcooking the greens.

Do I need to soak watercress before cooking?

No soaking needed, but rinse very well. Watercress grows low to the ground and can be sandy near the roots.

Is the soy sauce necessary?

No - it's totally optional. The dish is traditionally just garlic + greens + salt. The soy sauce adds extra umami and color, but you can skip it for a lighter flavor.

Can I make this oil-free?

You can sauté the garlic in a splash of water or broth, but the dish won't have the same aroma or flavor. A small amount of oil goes a long way.

More Delicious Chinese Veggie Recipes!

• Stir Fry A Choy (Taiwanese Lettuce ) - Crisp, flavorful Taiwanese lettuce stir fried with garlic and a splash of soy sauce. Light, savory, and ready in 10 minutes.
• Stir Fry Luffa Gourd (Si Gua, Silk Melon) - A soft, delicate gourd stir fried with dried shrimp for extra umami. Nutritious, comforting, and full of flavor.
• Beef and Vegetables Stir Fry - Add protein to your veggies! Tender beef tossed with baby corn, asparagus, and carrots in a savory stir fry sauce. Easy, colorful, and perfect for weeknights.
• Chinese Broccoli with Sesame Soy Sauce (Gai Lan 芥蘭) - Crisp-tender Chinese broccoli drizzled with a garlicky sesame soy sauce. Simple, fragrant, and delicious with rice.

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