Crispy Fried Winter Melon
Marinated winter melon strips are coated in batter and double-fried for a crisp exterior, tender interior, and light, fragrant, delicious flavor.
Ingredients
net winter melon (peeled, seeds and pith removed, washed, cut into strips)
500 g
peanut oil (actual consumption 150g, 15g used in the batter)
500 g
all-purpose flour (made into thick batter)
75 g
five-spice powder
1 g
baking powder
2 g
salt
10 g
MSG
2 g
Instructions
1
Marinating and batter preparation
Peel the winter melon, remove seeds and pith, wash, and cut into strips 3.5 cm long and 0.3 cm thick. Marinate with salt for 30 minutes, gently squeeze out excess moisture, mix with MSG and set aside. Mix all-purpose flour with water to form a thick batter, add five-spice powder, baking powder, and 15g peanut oil, and stir well.
2
Frying
Place a wok over high heat, add 500g peanut oil and heat to 60-70% of its maximum temperature. Dip each winter melon strip in the batter and place into the hot oil, fry briefly then remove. Once all strips are fried once, increase the oil temperature to 80% of maximum, add all winter melon strips back into the oil for a second fry until golden brown. Remove, drain excess oil, and serve on a plate.
