WARNING - This dish is a test of your skill in handling the knife and patience, but at the end you will be rewarded with a healthy tasty dish.
Ingredients
* approx 300g winter melon
* 60g picnic ham
* 2 slices ginger
Sauce
* Stock
* 1 teaspoon rice wine
* 1 teaspoon sesame oil
* 1 tablesppoon cornflour
* 1 teaspoon honey
Method
1. Remove the melon skin and seeds. Cut up the melon in big thick piece as you need to slit them in the middle.
2. Cut the hams to about the size of the melon. Brush on honey and steam it for about 2 minutes.
3. Put the ham in between the slits on the melon, lay them nicely on a plate, add in the stock, rice wine & sliced ginger. Steam till the melon becomes transparent.
4. Pour the stock from the plate into a pot, bring it to boil.
5. In the mean time mix the cornflour with some water, mix it well and stir into the pot.
6. Drip some sesame oil, stir it and pour the sauce onto the melon.
Notes
- As both the ham and stock already has salt in them, you can choose not to add in any more salt.
- The steaming time depends on the thickness of the melon, if the melon pieces are thicker then it requires longer time.
- Do not over steam the winter melon as it will become too soft and soggy which will breaks up easily.
- Do not over steam the winter melon as it will become too soft and soggy which will breaks up easily.
- Do not cut the slit too deep as the melon will become very soft and it may break into half easily. I made this mistake when I cook this (the above photo are taken when DinoPapa cook this), the melon breaks and the hams"broke loose".
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wow looks intricate sia! Never knew there was "another way" to prep winter melon. :p
ReplyDeleteThis is suppose to be the healthier way since its steamed but then the ham is processed food n is salty, thus not very healthy haha~
DeleteHaven't tried cooking winter melon as yet but your doesn't seem too complicated.. worth a try.
ReplyDeleteMust be very patient coz you need to steam and hover around it to make sure you dun over steam the melon.
DeleteI didn't know that winter melon can be cooked this way. I thought it can only be used in soups. Thanks for the new idea.
ReplyDeleteThats what I thought too, till I chance upon this recipe. Try it and see if u like it or not.
DeleteWOW! Great idea! It look very gourmet especially if you thicken the broth. I am going to try to trick to kid into eating this "sandwich"
ReplyDeleteTry it and let me know if your kids love it.
DeleteMy son took the ham n not the melon coz he does not like soggy meshy food, no texture to him, he will gag if I want him to eat. Being a good boy he will eat but will quickly wash it down with soup.
This is a completely new concept to me. I'm not generally a big fan of winter melon, but this recipe has got me very curious
ReplyDeleteWinter melon has not taste. This is sweet becoz of the stock and the honey, of coz the ham adds in some flavoring too.
DeleteThis looks like Chinese restaurant fare, am learning how to be a better cook through this linky! :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh it looks like fm the restaurant? Then I have to say thank you to my gf who gave this cookbook as a gift =)
DeleteHappy Cooking Angeline~
This looks great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome~
DeleteHope you can try it out and share with us when you do =)