Winter Melon Soup with Ham and Shiitake Mushrooms

Light, savory and satisfying!
   
     Winter melon soups are very pleasant tasting and healthy.  The flavor of winter melon is uniquely light and savory.  Winter melon soup is renowned for being perfect for weight loss dieting.
     Winter melon is not sweet like a fruit.  Winter melon can grow to huge sizes that exceed 3 feet in length!  Asian market usually sell portioned sections of winter melon.
     There are many varieties of shallot.  Many shallots are not in the onion family of plants.  Shallot varieties are commonly used in many regional Thai and Chinese recipes.  
   
     Winter Melon Soup with Ham and Shiitake Mushrooms Recipe:
     This recipe makes 1 large portion of soup!
     Heat a sauce pot over medium/medium low heat.
     Add 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil.
     Add 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil.
     Add 1 minced garlic clove.
     Add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped shallot.
     Add 1/2 teaspoon of minced ginger.
     Saute for about 45 seconds, till the garlic and ginger become fragrant.
     Add 2 1/2 cups of light chicken broth.
     Raise the temperature to medium/medium high heat.
     Bring the broth to a gentle boil.
     Cut the seeds and rind off of a 10 to 12 ounce piece of winter melon.
     Cut the winter melon into large bite size cube shaped pieces.
     Add the winter melon to the boiling soup broth.
     Add white pepper and sea salt.
     As soon as the edges of the winter melon pieces start to turn clear and translucent, reduce the temperature to medium low heat.
     Simmer the soup, till the winter melon pieces turn from opaque to a clear translucent color.
     Add 1 to 2 ounces long thin sliced ham strips.
     Add 2 to 3 small shiitake mushrooms that are cut into large bite size pieces.
     Simmer the soup for one minute.
     Ladle the soup into a bowl.
     Sprinkle a few thin bias cut green onion slices on the soup.
   
     Winter melon soups are great diet food for losing excess weight.  Add only enough ham to flavor the soup.  Plain winter melon soup has a nice flavor on its own.  Adding ham and shiitake gives winter melon soup a light hearty flavor.  Winter melon soup is one of my favorites!  ...  Shawna