Winter Melon Meatball Soup (冬瓜丸子汤 Dong Gua Wan Zi Tang)
Winter melon meat ball soup gets its umami flavor from the light and juicy meat balls. At the same time, the winter melon adds a refreshing balance to the tasty soup.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 lb (~450 g) of winter melon
- 1 lb of ground pork (preferably 30% fat)
- 1 small ginger chunk (~1 in or 2.5 cm long)
- 1-2 green onions
- 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3-5 sprigs of fresh cilantro
Instructions
- 1
In a large sauce pan, heat a pot of water (~8 cups or 2 quarts) under medium-high heat. While waiting for water to boil, prepare the ingredients for the meatballs.
- 2
Peel and mince the ginger. Mince the green onions as well
- 3
In a medium bowl, add the ground pork, the minced ginger, minced green onions, 1 tablespoon of Chinese cooking wine, 1.5 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of corn starch, mixing everything until well combined.
- 4
When the water boils, remove the lid and set the heat to low. Scoop out ~1 tablespoon of meat mixture with a spoon and use your hands to help shape the mix into a ball. Then add the meatball to the pot of water. Use a wooden spatula to gently swirl the water with the meatball(s) to prevent them from sticking to the bottom. Repeat the same procedure until all of the meat mixture is used. Once done, raise the heat to medium-high again. The pot should remain uncovered.
- 5
Wait for the water to boil again. Meanwhile, cut off the winter melon's hard skin and slice the white winter melon meat into quarter-inch (~0.6 cm) thick wedges. Discard the cilantro stems and cut the leaves into small sections. Set the cilantro aside until the very end.
- 6
When the water boils again, add the winter melon wedges. Wait for the water to boil again. Then lower the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and add the cilantro leaves, gently swirling for a bit. Ladle equal amount of meatballs, winter melon wedges, and liquid into each bowl. Serve the soup while it's hot.