Winter Melon Soup

By Swee Tan

Over the years, Growing Together has grown winter melon (Benincasa hispida) which is a member of the gourd family. I have been asked many times “What is this vegetable?” and “How do you cook it?” So one Friday, I prepared some winter melon soup and brought it to the community garden to share with whoever was there that day. Winter melon soup is a famous Chinese dish. Some gardeners were familiar with the soup but they cooked it differently. Anyway, there were 10 members that morning who tried the soup with rice (thanks to Anne and Graham who brought their rice cooker) and I think they liked the soup. Some members had a second helping which is the highest compliment for any cook!

The recipe I used is below. If you find yourself with some winter melon, try making this delicious soup.

Winter Melon Soup

By tasteasianfood.com

For the stock

6 cups of chicken broth

For marinating the meat

• 200g chicken, minced

• 1.5 tbsp Chinese wine (optional)

• 2 tbsp light soy sauce

• 2 tsp salt

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Others

• 900g winter melon (600g after removing the pith and skin)

• 1 tsp goji berries

• 5 dried red dates

• 6 medium-size Shitake dried mushrooms

• 2 tsp dried shrimps

• 3 slices ginger

• 1 small carrot, about 100g

• Salt and white pepper to taste

Prepare the ingredients:

1. Cut off the skin of the winter melon. Remove the pith and cut the winter melon into small cubes.

2. Soak the goji berries and dried dates with water. Cut the red dates to half and remove the seed.

3. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in water until it is fully hydrated. Remove the stem and cut them into small dices.

4. Keep the mushroom stock, to add to the soup later.

5. Soak the dried shrimps in water until rehydrated. Toast the dried shrimps with a small pan until it smells fragrant. 

6. Cut the carrot into small wedges.

7. Marinate the chicken meat with salt, cornstarch, soy sauce, and wine.

Prepare the soup:

1. Prepare 6 cups of soup base by using 1 litre of chicken stock. Bring it to a boil. 

2. Add red dates and the mushrooms, followed by the winter melon, dried shrimps, and goji berries. 

3. Test the doneness of the winter melon after fifteen minutes.

4. Once the winter melon has the right texture, add the mince chicken.

5. Season the soup with salt and ground white pepper, and serve.