Cherry & Dennis Recipes
Winter Melon Lean Pork Soup
冬瓜瘦肉湯
Recipe overview
Winter Melon Lean Pork Soup is a light and common Hong Kong home-style soup. It tastes clean and naturally sweet, is not oily, and is suitable for children and elderly people. This soup is faster than long-boiled soup, uses simple ingredients, and is good for everyday dinner. New helpers should blanch the lean pork first, cut the winter melon into large pieces, and cook until the winter melon turns slightly translucent and soft. Add salt only at the end to avoid making the soup too salty.
01
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 600g winter melon
- 300g lean pork
- 2 slices ginger
- 1 honey date, optional
- 2L water
Seasoning
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt, added at the end
- A little white pepper, optional
02
Tools
- 1 small pot or wok for blanching
- 1 chopping board
- 1 kitchen knife
- 1 soup ladle
- 1 large bowl
- 1 colander
03
Steps
Step 1
Prepare the Ingredients
Prepare the winter melon, lean pork, ginger slices, honey date and soup pot first.
Step 2
Rinse Lean Pork
Rinse the lean pork with clean water and check for blood or small bone fragments.
Step 3
Blanch Lean Pork
Put the lean pork into cold water and bring it to a boil for about 3 minutes to release blood and impurities.
Step 4
Rinse After Blanching
Remove the blanched lean pork, rinse it clean with water, and drain it for later use.
Step 5
Prepare Winter Melon
Wash the winter melon, remove the seeds, and cut away the hard skin.
Step 6
Cut Winter Melon
Cut the winter melon into large pieces. Do not cut it too small, or it may fall apart too quickly in the soup.
Step 7
Prepare Pot Water
Add about 2L water to the soup pot, then add ginger slices and the honey date.
Step 8
Add Lean Pork
Put the blanched and cleaned lean pork into the soup pot.
Step 9
Bring to Boil
Bring the water to a boil over high heat. If there is foam, skim it away with a soup ladle.
Step 10
Add Winter Melon
After the water boils, add the winter melon. Turn to medium-low heat and cook for about 35 to 45 minutes.
Step 11
Add Salt and Taste
When the winter melon becomes slightly translucent and soft, add a little salt at the end. Taste and adjust if needed.
Step 12
Serve Soup
Serve the soup and ingredients in bowls. Be careful because the soup is hot. Drink with dinner.
Common mistakes
- The lean pork is not blanched first, so the soup has blood and impurities.
- The winter melon is cut too small and falls apart after boiling.
- Salt is added too early and the soup becomes too salty.
- There is too little water, so the soup amount is not enough at the end.
- The heat is too high for too long and the winter melon becomes too mushy.
- Too much salt is added without tasting first.
Tips
Winter Melon Lean Pork Soup is light and suitable for everyday family dinners. Blanch the lean pork first so the soup stays clearer. Do not cut the winter melon too small, or it may become too soft. When making it for your employer's family for the first time, add only a little salt at the end, then ask Ma'am or Sir to taste it.
