Although I forget how it began, I know it has become one of the soups I love cooking from time to time. And it always marks a simple, nice difference on my dinning table. I believe I have never had other savory soups resembling a thick blanket of snow like this.
Soups are usually served hot on my table, and this is no exception. I eat hot soups all seasons, this soup gives me an added bonus during summer because from the moment the winter melon is pulverized, I can’t help associating it with some chilling shaved ice.
Soon after the soup is boiled for minutes, the winter melon is tendered and ‘sucks’ much flavors from the stock, meaning that it can be quickly prepared and served. This soup actually had not disappointed me whether it was made from a vegetable or a meat stock.
This white gourd is light and soothing, a wonderful food for summer (here tells why it has ‘winter’ in its name), which is best when consumed fresh. If you have bought a rather big chunk of this gourd, do consider the idea of dividing it and have the rest for making a healing drink.
- Ingredients
- ~500g winter melon
- 1 cup stock, I used dashi
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp toasted bacon flakes or Chinese ham, finely chopped
- 1 sprig coriander aka cilantro, finely chopped
- Seasonings
- ~1/8 tsp ground white pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste (do a taste test first if using seasoned stock)
Method
Wash winter melon briefly, if required. Cut away pith and seeds. Peel the green skin. You may need a knife than a peeler because of the tough skin (make sure the gourd rest securely on the cutting board so that it won’t escape under your knife and make you cut yourself). Then, slice it into smaller chunks for blending.
Pulverize winter melon chunks with one cup of water in a blender for about 10 to 15 seconds or till they are transformed into a texture of shaved ice.
In a pot, over medium heat, add winter melon flesh, stock and bring them to the boil. Keep boiling for another two to three minutes till winter melon turns transparent. Add chopped coriander and seasonings to taste. Sprinkle toasted bacon or ham on top.
Serve hot and enjoy!
- Category: Vegetable .
- 19 comments
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oooh looks good…
I always used candied wintermelon to add to barley drinks…
Perhaps I should try using fresh ones instead… 😀
Mmmm….looks very refreshing. Agree with you…a lovely soup for any season. Only sad thing is I hardly see this vegetable here.
Healthy delicious soup, slurp…..
It looks really like shaved rice. I love winter melon and I like how you pulverize it before adding into the soup, to get such a snowy shaved ice texture. I also like the simplicity of your soup – let the winter melon speak for itself. Amazing!
This is new to me, never thought of blending the wintermelon. Yes they do look like snow and very pretty!
I never had it this way before…. great summer cooler
This looks delicious! I didn’t try winter melon when I had the opportunity and I regret it now. At a smaller farmer’s market here in Kentucky I saw something that looked similar to a variety of winter melon and asked if it was. I got a strange look and told it was an Armenian cucumber which aren’t common here either. So we do get some exciting things, just not winter melon. 🙂
I used to smash the winter melon with my spoon after I finished the soup, then add some soya sauce to savour it. Now, I see this is a very clever recipe, I would be happier to eat up the melon with this presentation. Thank you for sharing.
This is also a first for me 🙂 It looks really comforting and lovely though! Thanks for sharing this idea 😀
I haven’t tried eating winter melon this way. Sounds so interesting!! It looks like a bowl of shaved ice from the first glance. Very soothing!!
Yummmm…Your winter melon soup is so inviting and beautiful. 🙂
This is an interesting way to cook winter melon, we usualy boil them in chunks…I must say this would be a good way to not leave the chunks of melon behind when all the soup is gone!:)
@Jeannie,
This is a nice variation though, I have to admit that I too have the winter melon chucked or diced more often.
I never had winter melon soup made this way…looks beautiful and so tasty.
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
yeah me too like the rest , never had this kind of savoury melon soup , probably i would like it!
I cooked winter melon soup last week but the typical chinese way. This recipe of yours is soo unique and simple to make. I am sure my family would love it!! Thanks once again for sharing!
One of my favourite mum’s soup! thanks for sharing (:
What did you do with the seeds? Nobody seems to talk abt this elephant in the room. Are they pulverise as well?
@ikanrajah,
The pith with seeds should be cut away (just updated). Thank you!