Lamb and Winter Melon Soup
A traditional Northeast Chinese soup featuring thin slices of lamb simmered with winter melon in a light, savory broth. The lamb turns tender and aromatic while the winter melon becomes soft and mellow.
Ingredients
Lamb (cut into small thin slices)
150 g
Winter melon, peeled and seeded (cut into rectangular thin slices, blanched in hot water)
150 g
Fine salt
to taste
MSG
to taste
Sichuan peppercorn water
to taste
Shaoxing wine
to taste
White pepper
to taste
Shredded scallion
to taste
Shredded ginger
to taste
Cilantro (cut into roughly 2 cm pieces)
to taste
Pork lard
a pinch
Broth (as soup base)
to taste
Instructions
1
Prepare ingredients
Cut the lamb into small thin slices. Peel and seed the winter melon, then cut it into rectangular thin slices and blanch in hot water. Cut the cilantro into roughly 2 cm pieces.
2
Cook the soup
Place the broth and winter melon in a pot, then add the fine salt, Sichuan peppercorn water, Shaoxing wine, MSG, and white pepper. Once the soup comes to a boil, add the lamb, shredded scallion, shredded ginger, and cilantro. Bring back to a boil, add a pinch of pork lard, and immediately ladle into bowls to serve.
