Winter Melon Soup
冬瓜汤
A light, healing Cantonese soup — tender winter melon in a clear, savory broth with dried shrimp and mushrooms. Comfort in a bowl.
📋 Ingredients
What Is Winter Melon Soup?
💡 Ingredient Notes: Winter Melon Soup (冬瓜汤, dōng guā tāng) is a classic Cantonese home-style soup — light, clean, and deeply soothing. Winter melon (a large, mild-flavored gourd) is simmered in a clear broth with dried shrimp and mushrooms until tender. The result is a clear, savory broth with soft, translucent chunks of melon that soak up all the flavor. It's the kind of soup Cantonese families serve with every meal — gentle, hydrating, and considered cooling in Chinese food therapy. Eaten year-round, especially refreshing in summer.
Ingredients You'll Need
The Soup
- 500g winter melon, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
- 20g dried shrimp, soaked
- 4 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked and sliced
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 3 slices ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Chopped scallions
📝 Instructions
Prep ingredients
Soak dried shrimp and mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes. Cut the winter melon into bite-sized chunks, removing the skin and seeds.
Simmer the broth
Bring chicken stock to a boil with ginger, dried shrimp, and mushrooms. Simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors.
Add melon
Add the winter melon chunks. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the melon is translucent and tender but not falling apart.
Season and serve
Add salt, white pepper, and sesame oil. Ladle into bowls and top with scallions. Serve hot.
💡 Pro Tips
- 💡Winter melon becomes translucent when done — it should be soft but hold its shape.
- 💡The dried shrimp add essential umami — don't skip them. They're cheap and available at Asian markets.
- 💡This soup should be light — don't add heavy seasonings. Let the clean flavors shine.
📊 Nutrition Facts
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does winter melon taste like? Very mild — like a less sweet zucchini. It absorbs the flavors of the broth beautifully. That's why it pairs so well with savory stocks.
Where do I find winter melon? Asian grocery stores sell it whole or pre-cut. It's large (can be 5+ kg) but stores sell smaller wedges.
