Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe: With Pork Ribs And Mushrooms
Winter Melon soup in Chinese style is amazing in taste and easy to make. Recently one of my regular readers requested me to make a soup using vegetables. Then I searched in many recipe books and found this Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe.
This is simple, easy, and tasty to eat and drink. Only three main ingredients and a few seasonings can make this recipe. You will need around 50 minutes of cooking to complete this. So, without any delay, let’s start the recipe.
Table of Contents
Winter Melon Soup Recipe Review
There are some general questions in the mind of cooks before starting a new recipe. They want to know about recipe time, serving, and calories. In this recipe, you will get all the answers to your questions. So, carefully read them.
| Course: Soup | Cuisine: Chinese | Difficulty: Easy | ||
| Total Time: 1 hour | ||||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories | |
| 4 people | 10 Minutes | 50 Minutes | 150 | |
What Are The Utensils Needed For The Recipe?
In the total process, you need to cut the winter melons, cook them, and finally serve. This total process needs only the following utensils. All these utensils should be in your kitchen. So, don’t worry, just start the recipe.
- One Chopping Board
- One Chopper
- One Fork
- One Cooking Pan
- One Soup Spoon
- One Wooden Spoon
- One Ladle Spoon
List Of Ingredients Needed For Winter Melon Soup Recipe
Maybe this one is the lowest ingredient needed for a recipe that I tried in this blog. You need mushrooms, and pork besides winter melon. Every other ingredient is seasoning and helping ingredients.
- Winter Melon: 1 Pc Mid-Size
- Shiitake Mushroom: 6 pc
- Pork Ribs: 200g
- White Pepper: 1 tsp
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Oyster Sauce: 2 tbsp
- Green Onion: 2 tbsp (Chopped)
Winter Melon Soup Recipe Instructions
This easy recipe has only 5 steps. All these steps are described here in detail so that you can easily understand everything. Let’s start with cutting the winter melon.
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Step 1: Prepare the Winter Melon
Take a mid-sized winter melon and wish it under tap so the white powders are washed away. Now cut it in from the top so that we can bring the inner soft parts out.
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Now scoop out the soft inner part using a fork, spoon, or knife. Bringing them out, keep the soft parts in a plate and keep the outer part intact. The outer part will be used as a serving bowl later.
Step 2: Cooking the Soup
In a cooking pan, combine the winter melon’s soft parts, and soaked shiitake mushrooms. You can use the mushroom both sliced or whole. I am using whole mushrooms. Then add pork ribs, salt, and white pepper. Add enough water to cover the ingredients, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
Step 3: Skim the Foam
After 20 or 30 minutes of cooking, you will see some foam rise to the surface. You need to use a spoon to carefully skim off the foam from the top of the soup to keep it clear.
Step 4: Seasoning
Now it is time to add seasoning. Once the foam has been removed, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of chopped green onion to the soup. Stir gently with a wooden spoon and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend.
Step 5: Final Touches
After another 10-15 minutes of cooking, when the soup is ready, carefully pour it into the hollowed-out winter melon using a ladle. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of chopped green onions on top for garnish. Now serve it.
Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Take a mid-sized winter melon and wish it under tap so the white powders are washed away. Now cut it in from the top so that we can bring the inner soft parts out.
- Now scoop out the soft inner part using a fork, spoon, or knife. Bringing them out, keep the soft parts in a plate and keep the outer part intact. The outer part will be used as a serving bowl later.
- In a cooking pan, combine the winter melon’s soft parts, and soaked shiitake mushrooms. You can use the mushroom both sliced or whole. I am using whole mushrooms. Then add pork ribs, salt, and white pepper. Add enough water to cover the ingredients, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
- After 20 or 30 minutes of cooking, you will see some foam rise to the surface. You need to use a spoon to carefully skim off the foam from the top of the soup to keep it clear.
- Now it is time to add seasoning. Once the foam has been removed, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of chopped green onion to the soup. Stir gently with a wooden spoon and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend.
- After another 10-15 minutes of cooking, when the soup is ready, carefully pour it into the hollowed-out winter melon using a ladle. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of chopped green onions on top for garnish. Now serve it.
Do’s and Don’ts of The Recipe
I missed some points in the instructions part. That’s why some warnings are here for you to make the recipe perfect. Please follow these dos and don’ts carefully.
- Clean the pork ribs thoroughly: Rinse the pork ribs well before adding them to the soup to remove any blood or impurities, which helps achieve a clearer broth.
- Cook the soup slowly: Let the soup simmer on low heat to allow the flavors to blend and the pork to become tender.
- Soak the shiitake mushrooms: If using dried shiitake mushrooms, soak them in warm water until soft before slicing and adding to the soup.
- Don’t skip removing the foam: Neglecting this step will result in a cloudy and less appetizing broth.
FAQs
Here are some questions with answers that may come to your mind while making this recipe at home. I am trying to answer these questions for you.
Can I use other types of meat besides pork ribs?
Yes, you can substitute pork ribs with chicken (bone-in for more flavor) or even seafood like shrimp or scallops. Each will give the soup a different flavor profile.
Do I have to use shiitake mushrooms?
Shiitake mushrooms add a rich umami flavor, but you can substitute them with other types of mushrooms like button mushrooms or oyster mushrooms. You can also skip mushrooms if you prefer a simpler broth.
Can I make the soup without using oyster sauce?
Yes, you can skip the oyster sauce or replace it with soy sauce or fish sauce for a different but equally flavorful taste. Just be mindful of salt levels as these substitutes are salty as well.
How do I know when the winter melon is cooked?
The winter melon is cooked when it turns slightly translucent and is tender enough to pierce with a fork. Be careful not to overcook it, or it may become too soft.
Recipe Recap
The recipe is done, I hope you made the recipe better than me. But if you are yet to start the recipe, then I have a warning for you. This is a vegetable-based soup without too much of seasoning. So, the soup may smell raw. So, before making it, you should have the habit of eating less spicy food.
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