Winter Melon Soup with Meatballs (冬瓜丸子汤)
A comforting dish with natural umami taste, winter melon soup with meatballs is an easy dish that warms your body in a very tasty way.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 15 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 400 g winter melon, 14oz
- 50 g mung bean vermicelli (Fen Si/粉丝) (see note 1)
- 250 g minced pork, or minced chicken (9oz)
- 1 stalk scallions, finely chopped
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
- 1 tbsp tapioca starch, or corn starch
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp neutral cooking oil
- 1/2 tbsp papery dried shrimp (see note 2)
- 1 stalk scallions, finely chopped
- 1000 ml water (4 cups)
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Coriander, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Trim off the hard, green skin of the winter melon and remove its seeds. Cut into bite-sized chunks. Set aside.
- 2
Put dried mung bean vermicelli in a bowl. Pour in tap water to soak (enough to cover). Drain after 10 mins. Cut into shorter sections with scissors.
- 3
Put minced meat into a mixing bowl. Add scallions, ginger, light soy sauce, salt, white pepper, starch, and egg white. Stir in the same direction to combine until no more liquid can be seen and the mixture becomes sticky.
- 4
Heat up oil in a pot over medium heat then add dried papery shrimp and scallions. Fry until fragrant.
- 5
Add water. Bring it to a very gentle simmer then turn the heat to low.
- 6
Place some meat mixture onto the palm of your hand (wear a kitchen glove if you wish). Gently close your hand into a fist while squeezing some mixture out to form a ball through the opening between your thumb and index finger. Scoop it off with a spoon then slide into the soup (Please refer to the tutorial video below). Repeat the procedure to finish all the meatballs.
- 7
Add the winter melon to the soup. Cover the pot with a lid. Turn the heat to medium. Leave to cook until the winter melon becomes soft (about 8-10 mins).
- 8
Put in mung bean vermicelli. Cook for a further minute.
- 9
Finally, add salt, ground white pepper & sesame oil. Garnish with coriander (if using). Serve warm in a large soup dish or individual serving bowls.