Winter melon soup is a very nourishing dish. When paired with mutton, pork ribs, and the like, its nutritional value becomes even richer. Not only is winter melon affordable and of good quality, but the soup made from it also has a refreshing taste and beautifying effects on the skin, making it a favorite among many women as a beauty-boosting delicacy.
Nutritional Value of Winter Melon Soup
Winter Melon Soup
1. Winter melon is rich in vitamin C and potassium salts, which have diuretic and swelling-reducing effects.
2. Winter melon contains dicarboxylic acid, a substance that can inhibit the conversion of sugars into fats, making it one of the best ingredients for those looking to lose weight.
3. Given the refreshing taste of winter melon, it's not hard to guess that it also has heat-clearing and summer-cooling effects. Being cool in nature, it is an essential dish for summer, and regular consumption can help with tonifying the spleen and beautifying the complexion, as well as relieving coughs and soothing phlegm.
Clam and Winter Melon Soup
Clam and Winter Melon Soup
Ingredients Preparation
Main Ingredients: 1000g winter melon, 400g clams. Seasonings: 1 teaspoon salt, 5 slices ginger, 2 green onions.
Preparation Method
1. Soak the clams in lightly salted water to let them purge any sediment; you can substitute clams with other shellfish. Chop the green onions and slice the ginger.
2. Add water to a pot and put in the green onions and ginger. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add the clams and cook until they open. If there are still some sediment particles on the clams, swirl them in the pot to remove them.
3. After cooking the clams, scoop out the ginger slices and green onions. Pour the broth into a large bowl and let it settle to clarify.
4. Scoop out balls of winter melon or cut it into small pieces. Reheat another pot and slowly pour the clarified clam broth into it, being careful not to include any sediment at the bottom.
5. Add the winter melon balls to the pot and season with an appropriate amount of salt. Cook over medium heat until the winter melon becomes translucent. Then add the clam meat, bring to a boil, sprinkle chopped green onions on top, and turn off the heat to serve.
Pork Rib and Winter Melon Soup
Pork Rib and Winter Melon Soup
Ingredients Preparation
Main Ingredients: 200g pork ribs, 200g winter melon. Seasonings: chicken essence, green onions, ginger, star anise, Sichuan pepper, sesame oil, cilantro, salt.
Preparation Method
1. Rinse the pork ribs and place them in boiling water to blanch and remove blood impurities. Skim off the foam, then remove the ribs. Peel and clean the winter melon, then cut it into chunks.
2. Clean the pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and bring to a boil with star anise, green onion segments, ginger slices, and Sichuan pepper. Add the pork ribs, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat. After half an hour, add the winter melon chunks.
3. Season with an appropriate amount of salt and cook for another 15 minutes. Add chicken essence and cilantro, drizzle with a few drops of sesame oil, and serve.
Mutton and Winter Melon Soup
Mutton and Winter Melon Soup
Ingredients Preparation
Main Ingredients: 1 lamb leg, 150g peeled winter melon, 1 bundle of glass noodles. Additional Ingredients: 5g salt, 1 piece of ginger, 1 piece of scallion, 1 sprig of cilantro, chicken essence.
Preparation Method
1. Separate the lamb meat from the bones and cut the meat into small pieces. It's best to use young lamb for better flavor. Peel and clean the winter melon, then cut it into thin slices. Slice the ginger and scallion.
2. Boil an appropriate amount of water in a pot and quickly blanch the glass noodles, then set aside.
3. In a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, then add the lamb and bones. Once boiling, skim off the foam and add the ginger and scallion. Simmer until the lamb is tender, then add the winter melon and glass noodles. Bring to a boil and simmer.
4. Once the winter melon is soft, season with salt and chicken essence, then garnish with cilantro before serving.