Ingredients
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2 litre
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1as soup base. Can use chicken stock
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12
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500gor one whole winter melon. de-seed
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2 tbsp
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to taste
Directions
*The meat in this delicacy can be replaced with duck, chicken, mutton and swine. It’s up to you!
Winter melon soup is one of the most popular Chinese soups. Slow cooked Chinese soups are known to be very nutritious. Good recipe to try out especially for those who are health conscious. Have this bowl of soup as it is or have it to accompany a typical Southeast Asian meal.
Benefits of winter melon soup
Winter melon is very nutritious according to traditional Chinese medicine beliefs. It is by nature used to help cool the body heat. Winter melon is also believed to be good for the bladder, lungs large intestine and small intestine. Hence, it helps to reduce phlegm and improves urinary problems. Besides, it is also low in calories.
How is the taste of winter melon?
Winter melon is very neutral in taste. Therefore, it depends on the other ingredients which are cooked along with it. Winter melon absorbs and enhances the flavors of other ingredients well.
How to clean winter melon?
Remove the seeds of the winter melon. Using a peeler or knife, remove the skin because it is thick and hard due to its waxy surface. The skin will still remain tough even after cooking.
Using slow cooker
In this video, I allowed the soup to boil before reducing the heat to let it simmer for 1.5 hours. However, cooking soups using the slow cooker makes it even easier. It is recommended to cook the soup for 6-8 hours on low heat to allow the vegetables to slowly release their nutrients. Otherwise, cook at high heat for 3-4 hours.
Steps
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1
Done
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Fill water in a large pot to a boil. |
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2
Done
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Add chicken carcass, red dates, and winter melon to the pot. Cover and bring water back to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 1½ to 2 hours. Skim off any scum appearing on the surface. |
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3
Done
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Season with salt and add goji berries. Continue to boil for another 5 minutes. Turn off stove. |
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4
Done
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Serve warm in individual bowls. |
