Ingredients
300 g winter melon (about 10 oz), 1000 ml (about 4 cups) clear broth.
Seasonings
1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine, 1 tablespoon flour, and salt, MSG, and white pepper to taste.
Instructions
1. Remove the outer skin, pulp, and seeds from the winter melon, wash it, then cut into large thin slices, leaving one end of each slice attached before cutting into thin strips to create a comb-like shape, evenly coat the cut winter melon slices with a layer of flour, and lay them flat on a plate for later use.
2. Place the prepared winter melon slices one by one into a pot of boiling water and cook until tender, then remove and cool in cold boiled water, drain well, and set aside in a container.
3. Place a wok over high heat, pour in the clear broth and bring to a boil. Ladle some of the boiling broth into the container holding the winter melon slices, letting them soak and absorb the flavor.
4. Bring the remaining clear broth to a boil in the wok, add salt, MSG, Shaoxing wine, and ground white pepper, stirring to combine, then pour into a soup bowl; remove the soaked winter melon slices and place them in the bowl before serving. This soup features tender, silky winter melon with a savory and well-balanced flavor.