Ingredients for cooking (serves four)
Ingredients: 600g of winter melon, 150g of green peas, 50g of ham, 3 slices of ginger
Condiments: 1/3 tablespoon of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of concentrated chicken broth, 1/5 tablespoon of white pepper powder
Step one: Peel and deseed the winter melon, wash it and cut into chunks; peel the ginger and slice it.
Step two: Dice the ham; wash the green peas and blanch them in boiling salted water for 30 seconds. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Step three: Heat up 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot, add the ginger slices and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the diced ham and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the winter melon chunks and 2 bowls of water, cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Step four: Add the green peas and stir evenly with the other ingredients in the pot. Cook for another 5 minutes until the soup thickens.
Step five: Add 1/3 tablespoon of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of concentrated chicken broth, and 1/5 tablespoon of white pepper powder. Stir well and serve.
Cooking tips:
1. This soup is best made with Jinhua ham which can significantly enhance the freshness of the soup and make it more fragrant. Regular ham can also be used, and if you're worried about the taste being too light, you can add some clear chicken broth to enhance its flavor.
2. Before making the winter melon soup, stir-fry the diced ham with oil before adding water, which will make the ham flavor richer and more delicious.
3. Green peas are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and soy lecithin. Eating them regularly can help maintain vascular elasticity, improve brain health, and prevent fatty liver disease. Before using green peas in cooking, they should be blanched in boiling water and then rinsed under cold water. This not only helps retain their vibrant green color but also removes the distinctive bean smell.
This article is reprinted from: http://www.doodii.com/news/2197.shtml