What is Winter Melon and How to Cook it?
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Have you ever walked through an Asian market and noticed this large melon with dark green skin and white flesh? It looks like an oblong watermelon and It is so big that the stores usually sell it pre-cut into smaller pieces. Do you wonder what it is and how to cook it?
This is called winter melon or 冬瓜 in Chinese, but you might hear itreferred to as wax melon, ash gourd, or winter gourd.It is also a healthy, low-carb foodso I want to show you the easiest and most delicious way to enjoyit -Braised Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp.
Author:
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp of dried shrimp
- 120g / ½ cup of water to soak the shrimp
- 680g / 1.5 lb winter melon, weighed after peeled and seeded
- 1.5 tbsp of cooking oil
- 1 shallot, diced
- 5 cloves of garlic, diced
- 1 tsp of red pepper flake
- ½ tsp of Sichuan peppercorns
- 2 tbsp of soy sauce
- 1 tbsp of oyster sauce
- 3 Tbsps diced scallions as garnish
Directions
Soak the dried shrimp in water for 30 minutes. Drain and reserve the soaking liquid on the side.
- Peel the winter melon, remove the fibrous strands and seeds, and cut the winter melon into bite-sized cubes.
- Heat your wok over medium heat and add 1.5 tbsp of oil. Add the soaked dried shrimp, diced shallot, garlic, chili flakes, and Sichuan peppercorns to the wok and stir for 2 minutes.
- Add 1.5 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of oyster sauce, and the winter melon cubes. Keep stirring for 3 minutes.
- Pour in the shrimp-soaking water. You can use vegetable stock if you want. Bring the pot to a boil. Turn the heat to low and let it simmer for 6-8 minutes or until the winter melon becomes soft and tender.
- Garnish it with some diced scallions and serve it as a healthy side dish.
Recipe Video
Recipe Note
Ingredient Tip- Dried shrimp is the secret ingredient that gives the winter melon the umami and savory taste. If you don’t have it, you can buy a thick cut of Italian prosciutto, dice it into small cubes, and use it as a replacement. Although the flavor is different, cured meat does provide a nice flavor and makes this dish delicious. If you are looking for vegetarian option, use diced shiitake mushrooms.
