Easy Winter Melon & Snow Mushroom Soup: Healthy & Flavorful

Winter melon and snow mushroom soup is a refreshing and nutritious dish suitable for any family meal. With the natural sweetness of winter melon and the crisp texture of snow mushrooms, this soup is sure to please every member of your family. Let “Recipe Handbook” guide you through this simple yet delicious winter melon and snow mushroom soup recipe!

Ingredients for Winter Melon and Snow Mushroom Soup

Here is a list of ingredients needed for winter melon and snow mushroom soup, serving 4 people:

• Winter melon: 1 piece (approximately 200-300g)
• Snow mushrooms: 100g
• Chilies: 2 (optional)
• Green onions: 2 sprigs
• Cilantro: 2 sprigs
• Cooking oil: 1/2 tablespoon
• Vegetarian seasoning powder: 1.5 teaspoons
• Common seasonings: A pinch (salt, ground pepper, MSG/broth powder)

Ingredients for winter melon and snow mushroom soup

How to Choose Fresh Ingredients

How to Choose Winter Melon

• You should choose winter melon with a fresh green color, firm skin, small white spots on the skin, and a thick stem, as these indicate young, tender winter melon.
• Additionally, look for a thin, fine layer of hair on the skin, and choose one that feels heavy in your hand – these are good quality winter melons.
• Avoid buying winter melon if the skin color is light green transitioning to white, or if the fruit is too large, as these are old winter melons and will taste sour.
• Do not buy winter melon that is wilted, soft-skinned, or has strange black spots, as these have been stored for too long and are likely spoiled.

How to Choose Snow Mushrooms

• Fresh, good quality snow mushrooms will have a white or gray body, large, firm caps, and vibrant colors.
• You should choose snow mushrooms that grow in clusters, with thin, fine filaments on the underside of the caps; these are fresh, newly picked mushrooms.
• Fresh snow mushrooms will have a distinctive mushroom aroma when smelled and feel firm when held.
• It is best to buy packaged snow mushrooms with clear origins and information such as production date and expiry date printed on the packaging.
• Do not buy snow mushrooms if they are watery, slimy, bruised, or have a strange odor, as these are spoiled and unusable.

Selecting fresh ingredients for the soup

How to Prepare Winter Melon and Snow Mushroom Soup

Prepare Ingredients

• After purchasing, cut off the muddy base of the snow mushrooms, then soak them in diluted salt water for about 15 minutes.
• After soaking, rinse thoroughly with clean water, drain, then tear or cut the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces.
• Peel the winter melon, remove the stem, wash thoroughly, and cut into appropriate slices.
• Pick off any damaged leaves from the green onions and cilantro, discard the roots. Remove the stems from the chilies. Wash all of them with water, then cut the chilies in half and finely chop the green onions and cilantro.

Prepping winter melon and snow mushroom soup ingredients

Cook the Soup

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pot, then add the snow mushrooms and stir-fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Next, add 1 liter of water, chilies, and the prepared winter melon. Bring to a boil over high heat, then season with: 1.5 teaspoons vegetarian seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon MSG/broth powder, and stir well until the seasonings dissolve.
• Cook for another 5 minutes until the snow mushrooms and winter melon are tender. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary, then turn off the heat. Add the chopped green onions, cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, and it’s ready to serve.

Cooking winter melon and snow mushroom soup in a pot

Finished Dish

• A delicious, steaming hot bowl of winter melon and snow mushroom soup is incredibly appealing. The broth is clear, with a natural sweetness from the winter melon and mushrooms, perfectly seasoned, and a hint of spicy kick from the chilies, making it very enticing.
• The snow mushrooms are chewy and flavorful, combined with tender winter melon, making it very easy to eat. This soup pairs wonderfully with hot rice.

Finished winter melon and snow mushroom soup in a bowl

Conclusion

Winter melon and snow mushroom soup is an easy-to-make, nutritious dish suitable for any family meal. With its simple cooking method and readily available ingredients, you can easily prepare this soup to enrich your daily menu. Give it a try and share your thoughts with “Recipe Handbook”!