Traditional Chinese Medicine has used Winter Melon Soup With Pork Ribs 冬瓜湯 for centuries to cool overheated bodies during brutal summer months. This easy dong gua tang recipe tackles heat rash, bloating, thirst, and that sticky, damp feeling you can't shake when humidity spikes.
Despite its name, winter melon pork rib soup works best from May through August, not winter. TCM considers this large squash a cooling Yin food that targets your lung, bladder, and intestinal meridians. Translation: it helps you breathe easier, pee out excess water, and digest food without that heavy, sluggish feeling.
> In This Post: Everything You'll Need For Homemade Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe
We're layering in Si Shen Tang 四神湯 herbs to relieve adrenal fatigue while balancing blood sugar and kidney function. This isn't just soup. It's strategic food therapy your grandmother would approve of.
Many Cantonese households drink a bowl of soup every day. Chinese people make it good practice to take advantage of the health benefits included with food therapy. Winter melon is an alkaline fruit that has a neutralizing effect on the body.
As the name suggests, winter melon chunks are a crucial ingredient. Make this comforting soup to relieve digestive issues and remove dampness and discomfort while naturally boosting the immune system with a blend of herbs. This well-balanced herbal soup is excellent during Late Summer as we transition to Fall Autumn.
Learn everything about making authentic Chinese winter melon soup at home. We'll cover the cooling properties of dong gua, how to choose and prep it, which cuts of pork work best, and why this particular herb blend transforms a simple soup into serious food therapy. You'll also get tips for storing leftovers and adapting the recipe for different seasons.
Check out this quick story summary of our recipe!
Jump to:
- > In This Post: Everything You'll Need For Homemade Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe
- What Is Winter Melon?
- Why Cantonese Families Swear By This Soup
- How Winter Melon Soup Compares to Other Cooling Soups
- Winter Melon Soup Health Benefits & TCM
- Who Should Drink Winter Melon Soup
- Best Pots for Winter Melon Soup
- Ingredients and Substitutes
- Instructions - How to Make Winter Melon Soup Step by Step
- Winter Melon Soup Meal Prep Strategy
- Storage and Reheating Tips
- Recipe Variations for Different Needs
- Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Recipe Variations Worth Trying
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Other Easy To Make Nourishing Chinese Soup Recipes
- What To Serve With White Gourd Soup
- Your Summer Cooling Strategy Starts Here
- > Recipe Card
- Winter Melon Soup with Pork Ribs (Easy TCM Recipe)
What Is Winter Melon?
The English names for winter melon include wax gourd or ash gourd. This oversized squash looks like a watermelon wearing dark green skin, but inside you'll find white flesh that tastes mild and slightly sweet. Asian supermarkets usually sell it by the slice since whole melons can weigh 20 pounds or more.
Don't let the "winter" name fool you. The Chinese name Dong Gua 冬瓜 refers to its storage ability through winter months, not when you should eat it.
Why Cantonese Families Swear By This Soup
Cantonese winter melon soup appears on dinner tables across Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Vancouver's Chinese communities for one reason: it works. Mothers make big batches during San Fu season because traditional Chinese winter melon soup prevents summer illness better than treating it later.
This authentic winter melon soup recipe comes from my grandmother's kitchen in Hong Kong. She'd simmer pots on Sunday, portion them into jars, and we'd drink it throughout the week. No air conditioning, just strategic soup consumption.
The practice isn't superstition. It's observation over generations. Families who drink Chinese herbal soup regularly report fewer heat-related issues: less fatigue, better sleep, clearer skin, easier digestion during humidity spikes.
How Winter Melon Soup Compares to Other Cooling Soups
Not all cooling soups work the same way. Here's how Traditional Chinese winter melon soup stacks up against other TCM summer staples:
Winter Melon Soup vs. Watercress Soup Winter melon cools gently and reduces water retention. Watercress clears lung heat aggressively and works better for smokers or those with persistent dry cough. Choose dong gua tang if you're bloated; pick watercress if your throat feels scratchy and dry.
Winter Melon Soup vs. Lotus Root Soup Lotus root nourishes Yin and calms the mind, making it ideal for anxiety or insomnia during hot weather. Wax gourd soup focuses on physical cooling and diuretic action. Bloated and restless? Drink winter melon during the day, lotus root yin nourishing soup at night.
Winter Melon Soup vs. Bitter Melon Soup Bitter melon cools more intensely and lowers blood sugar faster, but tastes, well, bitter. Winter melon offers gentle cooling with a mild, pleasant taste kids actually drink. If you're heat-sensitive but can't handle bitter flavours, winter melon soup wins.
Winter Melon Soup vs. Green Bean Soup Green bean soup (mung bean) clears heat and detoxifies but contains no protein. Winter melon pork rib soup gives you cooling benefits plus amino acids, collagen, and minerals from the bones. It's a meal, not just a drink.
The bottom line? Winter melon soup offers moderate cooling with hydration and nutrition. It's your everyday summer soup, not crisis intervention.
Winter Melon Soup Health Benefits & TCM
Why Winter Melon Cools Your Body (TCM Perspective)
BEFORE:
"Winter melon ranks as slightly cold in nature with a sweet, bland taste. TCM theory says it targets your lung, large intestine, small intestine, and bladder meridians. That's medical speak for: it helps you breathe easier, pee out excess water, and digest food without that heavy, sluggish feeling."
AFTER:
Winter melon ranks as slightly cold in nature with a sweet, bland taste. In TCM theory, it targets your lung, large intestine, small intestine, and bladder meridians. Medical speak translation: it helps you breathe easier, pee out excess water, and digest food without that heavy, sluggish feeling.
The cooling effect helps during San Fu Tian 三伏天, the hottest period of summer according to the Chinese calendar. Your body runs hotter, sweats more, and needs foods that won't add internal heat. That's where dong gua shines.
Nutritional Benefits Beyond TCM
Winter melon packs Vitamin B and C, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and beta-carotene. The taste resembles cucumber with subtle grassy notes. One cup of cooked winter melon contains only 14 calories but gives you fibre, potassium, and antioxidants.
Don't Toss the Skin
The skin holds vibrant health benefits. It reduces water retention and bloating better than the flesh alone. Traditional families boil winter melon skin in water to make winter melon tea, a cooling drink for San Fu days. Moxibustion therapy on specific acupuncture points during this hot period treats "winter diseases" by strengthening Yang when it peaks.
When to Drink This Soup
Winter melon soup fits perfectly during San Fu Tian (三伏天), but don't stop there. The cooling benefits extend into autumn's unexpected heat periods. Learn how to transition from San Fu to Autumn Tiger cooling strategies and adapt your seasonal cooking for year-round temperature regulation.
Women dealing with premenstrual bloating and PMS symptoms should try our Sea Coconut Chinese Yam Conch PMS Relief Soup. It targets hormonal imbalances causing monthly bloating through liver yin nourishment, while winter melon tackles general water retention and summer heat. Think of it as a bloating relief soup!
During Late Summer (Late Fu), your body hits peak immunity thanks to vibrant Yang and blood circulation. Add this cooling soup recipe to your San Fu Period Meal Planning. Pair it with chrysanthemum honeysuckle tea for comprehensive summer heat relief. This summer heat relief soup cools from within while the tea clears upper body heat and soothes inflamed throats.
Seasonal Transition Strategy
As seasons shift into autumn tiger territory, complement this cooling soup with our Autumn Dryness Relief TCM Lotus Snow Fungus Dessert. You'll transition your body from summer's cooling needs to autumn's moistening requirements using lotus seeds, lily bulbs, and snow fungus for complete seasonal wellness support.
Who Should Avoid This Soup
Those with Yang deficiency, cold stomachs, or weak spleen constitutions need to consume winter melon in moderation. If you're always cold, have poor digestion, or experience loose stools regularly, this might not be your soup. Listen to your body.
Who Should Drink Winter Melon Soup
Drink this soup if you have:
- Bloating and water retention
- Summer heat exhaustion
- Excessive thirst
- Dark, concentrated urine
- Heat rash or skin inflammation
- Sluggish digestion in hot weather
- Mild edema (swollen ankles/fingers)
Avoid or limit if you have:
- Cold constitution (always feeling chilly)
- Weak digestion with loose stools
- Yang deficiency diagnosis
- Currently menstruating (too cooling)
Best Pots for Winter Melon Soup
Ceramic or clay pot - Ideal for TCM soups; doesn't react with herbs
Glass pot - Second choice; lets you monitor the simmer
Instant Pot - Fast option; cuts time to 45 minutes
Avoid stainless steel - Some herbs react with metal
Pot size: Minimum 4-quart capacity for this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutes
This simple TCM soup enhances the body's immunity, expells dampness, moistens the lungs and reduces heat. Nourish and balance the body's temperature with simple ingredients.
Winter Melon (冬瓜, dōngguā) - The star ingredient in any dong gua tang recipe tastes mild and works on multiple meridians. Winter melon is slightly cold in nature with a sweet, bland profile. Chinese banquets in Hong Kong often serve winter melon soups with Chinese ham, called dong gwa chong.
Pork Ribs - Pork ribs and pork bones boost a simple Chinese herbal soup recipe. Pork bone broth is rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Pork is also a rich source of niacin and thiamine, Vitamins B12 and B6, selenium, and zinc. Choose pork shank or tenderloin for less fat. Some recipes use ground pork meatballs or minced meat instead.
Here are a couple spareribs root-forward dishes I am genuinely obsessed with from the blog! Both these recipes are delicious and easy to make!
Other Pork Ribs Recipes
- Red Fermented Bean Curd Lotus Root Spareribs 南乳蓮藕炆排骨
- Honey Garlic Pork Ribs (Air Fry) 蒜子蜜汁骨
- Lotus Root Pork Bone Soup without Peanuts
- Air Fried Spareribs With Red Fermented Bean Curd 氣炸鍋南乳排骨
Si Shen Tang (四神湯 Shishin tāng) - Many Chinese herbal stores will sell pre-packaged Sishentang packages for convenience. We often buy these and add extra herbs based on seasonal needs. Learn more about Si Shen Tang benefits.
Black Eye Peas (眉豆, méi dòu)- This legume provides high-quality protein that digests easily. Black Eye Peas taste sweet and salty with neutral nature. Rich in Vitamin B1, Mei Dou nourishes Qi, invigorates kidneys and stomach, harmonizes internal organs, and relieves thirst. It treats heat-dampness, vomiting, diarrhea, and spleen deficiency. Diabetics love this ingredient.
Raw Coix Seeds (生薏米 Shēng yìmǐ) - Job's Tears are cold in nature and are excellent at removing dampness, wind and heat. Springtime is most suitable for making soups and beverages with coix seeds, such as Lemon Coix Seed Water 檸檬薏米水. Raw coix seeds invigorate the spleen, relieve diarrhea, lighten the body, nourish Qi, and improve spleen and intestinal pain.
Honey Date (蜜枣 mìzǎo) - Add one or two dried honey dates or dried figs to enhance the flavour of your soup.
Most dry goods ingredients, tools and supplies can be purchased at your local Asian markets and Chinese grocery stores or Amazon Online.
Instructions - How to Make Winter Melon Soup Step by Step
This easy authentic winter melon soup breaks down into four simple stages: prep the herbs, handle the melon, parboil the pork, then simmer everything together. The active work takes 15 minutes. The rest happens while you catch up on laundry or scroll your phone. Even first-timers nail this dong gua tang recipe on the first try.
Prep the Herbs
Soak herbs for 5 to 10 minutes in a small bowl. This removes dust and debris. Rinse and set aside.
Prepare the Winter Melon
Wash and pat dry your winter melon slab with clean water. Remove any seeds. Cut into large chunks, or go smaller if your soup pot runs tight on space.
Handle the Pork
Wash pork ribs, shank, or tenderloin with cold water. Pat dry with kitchen paper towel. Cut into smaller pieces only if your pot demands it.
Parboil the pork ribs in a medium pot to remove impurities and excess foam. Rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Build the Soup
Add winter melon pieces, pork, and herbal ingredients into a large pot. Avoid stainless steel; grab this ceramic pot or a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker instead. Not all Chinese herbs react with metal, but why risk it when making medicinal soups?
Fill with enough water to cover everything. We used about 4 litres of cold water.
Boil on high heat for 30 minutes. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 60 minutes.
Salt to taste.
Serve and Enjoy
The soup ingredients make a comforting meal on their own. The fork-tender pork riblets pair perfectly with Chinese Chili Soy Dipping Sauce.
Buy extra winter melon next time and braise it in a clay pot with ginger slices, green onions, dried shrimps, dried shiitake mushrooms, ground meat, spare ribs, or pork hocks. You'll get a delicious main dish that doesn't demand much prep time.
Winter Melon Soup Meal Prep Strategy
Make this winter melon soup once, eat it four times. Here's how:
Sunday Batch Cooking:
- Triple the recipe
- Cool completely before storing
- Portion into 2-cup containers
- Fridge: 3 days / Freezer: 2 months
Weekday Reheating:
Stovetop over medium heat beats microwave every time. The herbs release better when gently warmed. Add a splash of water if it's thickened.
What to Prep Alongside:
Cook a pot of rice. Steam some bok choy. Reheat the soup. Dinner in 15 minutes on Tuesday night when you're exhausted.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover winter melon soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavours deepen overnight as herbs continue releasing their essence.
Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until steaming hot. Avoid microwaving if possible since TCM soups benefit from gentle reheating that preserves herbal properties. Add a splash of water if the broth has thickened.
You can freeze this soup for up to 2 months. Portion into freezer-safe containers, leaving an inch of headroom for expansion. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Recipe Variations for Different Needs
Easy Winter Melon Soup (30-Minute Version)
Skip the herbs and simmer winter melon with pork ribs, ginger, and salt for 30 minutes on high heat. You lose the TCM benefits but gain speed. Works when you need something fast on a Tuesday night.
Winter Melon Soup Instant Pot Method
Parboil pork ribs as directed. Add all ingredients to Instant Pot with 3 cups water (less than stovetop since no evaporation). Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes. Total time: 45 minutes from start to table.
Instant Pot Tips:
- Use only 3 cups water vs. 4 litres stovetop
- Cut winter melon into smaller chunks for even cooking
- Add salt after cooking; pressure intensifies flavours
Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup (No Pork)
Replace pork ribs with 1 cup raw cashews for creaminess and protein. Add 2 dried shiitake mushrooms for umami depth. Simmer 60 minutes. The herbs still deliver full TCM benefits without animal products.
Some vegetarian winter melon soup recipes use tofu, but I find it gets spongy. Cashews give you richness that feels satisfying.
Dong Gua Tang Recipe (Traditional Cantonese Style)
The classic dong gua tang skips the Si Shen herbs and uses only winter melon, pork bones, dried scallops (conpoy), and salt. Simmer 2 hours for intense bone broth flavour. This version shows up at Cantonese banquets and family dinners across Hong Kong.
Add 2-3 small dried scallops for authentic restaurant taste. They're expensive but transform the broth completely.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Soup Tastes Too Bland
You likely undersalted or used too much water. Salt enhances the natural sweetness of winter melon and brings out herbal flavours. Add salt gradually until the taste balances.
Winter Melon Turned Mushy
You overcooked it. Winter melon needs only 60 to 90 minutes of simmering. Check at the 60-minute mark; it should feel tender but hold its shape.
Pork Ribs Are Tough
Parboiling removes impurities but also tightens the meat temporarily. The long simmer should tenderize tough pork ribs. If yours stay chewy, you either skipped the parboil or cut the simmer time short. Some cuts need the full 90 minutes.
Broth Looks Cloudy
This happens when you skip parboiling or boil too aggressively. Always parboil pork ribs first and rinse thoroughly. Once simmering, keep the heat low so bubbles barely break the surface.
Herbal Flavour Overpowers Everything
You used too many herbs or didn't balance them properly. Stick to the recipe ratios, especially if you're new to TCM soups. You can always add more next time, but you can't remove them once they're in.
Recipe Variations Worth Trying
Swap pork ribs for chicken thighs or drumsticks. Chicken makes a lighter broth that still satisfies.
Go vegetarian by replacing meat with raw cashews. They add creaminess plus extra vitamins and minerals without animal protein.
Add dried scallops (conpoy) for umami depth. Two or three small ones transform the flavour profile completely.
Try adding corn on the cob cut into chunks. Sweet corn balances winter melon's subtle taste and adds texture kids enjoy.
Make it spicier with a few slices of fresh ginger or a dried chili pepper. This variation works well if you're fighting off early cold symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You've asked these questions in DMs, comments, and emails for years. Here are the most common dong gua soup recipe questions answered straight, no fluff. If yours isn't here, drop it in the comments and I'll update this section.
Yes, replace pork ribs with raw cashews for creaminess or use vegetable broth. The herbs still deliver their TCM benefits even without animal protein.
Most Asian supermarkets sell winter melon by the slice in the produce section. Look for pieces with firm white flesh and unblemished dark green skin. Whole melons weigh too much for home use.
Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for 2 months. The herbal flavours actually improve after a day as ingredients continue melding.
While winter melon soup traditionally cools summer heat, you can drink it year-round in moderation. Those with cold constitutions should limit consumption during winter months or add warming ginger to balance it.
Winter melon tastes mild and slightly sweet, similar to cucumber with subtle grassy notes. It absorbs the flavours of whatever you cook it with, making it perfect for soups.
The skin holds health benefits and can be left on, though most recipes remove it for texture. If you peel it, save the skin to boil separately for winter melon tea.
Yes, winter melon soup is generally safe during pregnancy and can help with water retention. However, consult your healthcare provider about consuming TCM herbs during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
Winter melon grows much larger (up to 20 pounds) with smooth dark green skin and white flesh. Fuzzy melon stays small with fuzzy, light green skin. Both belong to the gourd family but have different textures and uses.
Yes, easy winter melon soup takes 15 minutes of active prep and 90 minutes of hands-off simmering. The hardest part is finding winter melon at your Asian market. Once you have ingredients, it's dump-and-simmer simple.
Absolutely. Winter melon soup Instant Pot method cuts cooking time to 45 minutes total. Pressure cook on high for 25 minutes, natural release 10 minutes. Use less water (3 cups vs 4 litres) since there's no evaporation.
Replace pork ribs with 1 cup raw cashews and 2 dried shiitake mushrooms. The vegetarian winter melon soup keeps all TCM benefits while staying plant-based. Cashews add creaminess that tofu can't match.
Dong gua tang (冬瓜湯) is the Mandarin pronunciation. Cantonese speakers say "dung gwa tong." Both refer to the same winter melon soup recipe.
Winter melon soup takes 90 minutes total: 30 minutes on high heat, then 60 minutes simmering on low. Active prep time is only 15 minutes. The Instant Pot version cuts cooking time to 45 minutes (25 minutes pressure cook, 10 minutes natural release, plus 10 minutes prep). You'll know it's done when the winter melon turns translucent and fork-tender. Overcooking past 2 hours makes it mushy, so set a timer.
Yes, winter melon soup freezes beautifully for up to 2 months. Let it cool completely, then portion into freezer-safe containers leaving 1 inch of headroom for expansion. The pork ribs and herbs maintain their texture after thawing. Avoid freezing in glass jars since liquid expands and can crack them. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat gently on the stovetop. The broth might separate slightly when frozen, just stir it while reheating and it comes back together.
Serve winter melon soup with steamed rice and one or two simple stir-fries for a complete Cantonese meal. The soup is mild, so pair it with flavourful mains like Chinese Sticky Rice, Honey Garlic Pork Ribs, or Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry. The pork riblets from the soup work as a protein dish on their own with Chinese Chili Soy Dipping Sauce. Keep sides light since the soup is already filling and the goal is cooling, not heavy comfort food.
Other Easy To Make Nourishing Chinese Soup Recipes
Find the harmony you miss with this delicious, immune-boosting, nutritious soup menu. Take back control of your mood and recharge energy levels by balancing your hormones and minerals. A bowl of nourishing soup is the quintessential embodiment of easily digestible southern Chinese cooking.
- Ba Wong Fa Soup for Cough and Phlegm 霸王花無花果瘦肉響螺湯
- Wild Matsutake Morel and Cordyceps Mushroom Soup 松茸菇羊肚菌石斛養生湯
- Chinese Papaya Soup with Black Eyed Peas (Easy) 木瓜花生眉豆雪耳雞腳湯
- Si Shen Tang Herbal Soup Adrenal Fatigue 四神湯
- Silkie Chicken Cordyceps Fish Maw Conch Soup 蟲草花花膠响螺煲烏雞湯
- Chinese Kabocha Pork Ribs Soup 南北杏南瓜排骨湯
- Chinese Papaya Dessert with Snow Fungus 木瓜雪耳糖水
- Modified Longan Date Tea for Summer (No Overheating)
- San Fu Period Adzuki Red Bean, Job's Tears & Poria Soup
What To Serve With White Gourd Soup
Chinese families love double-boiled soups simmered for hours. The extra broth warms you up while delivering nutritious essence, vitamins, and minerals your body craves.
Make a complete meal with these delicious recipes:
- Easy Homemade Char Siu (Air Fried)
- Chinese Sticky Rice 糯米飯
- Ants Climbing Up A Tree 螞蟻上樹
- Honey Garlic Pork Ribs (Air Fry) 蒜子蜜汁骨
- Instant Pot Braised Chinese Mushrooms 髮菜炆冬菇食譜
- Microwave Soy Sauce Chicken Wings 豉油雞翅微波爐
- Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry 番茄炒蛋
Your Summer Cooling Strategy Starts Here
Winter melon pork ribs soup delivers exactly what your body craves when summer heat peaks and nothing sounds good except cold watermelon. This Chinese cooling soup summer staple works because it hydrates while feeding you real nutrition, not just ice and sugar water.
The TCM approach makes sense once you try it. Your body doesn't need more cold drinks that shock your digestive system. It needs gentle cooling from the inside out. That's where this TCM heat clearing soup earns its reputation across generations of Cantonese families.
Make a big batch on Sunday. Portion it out for the week. Reheat one bowl when the afternoon heat hits and you're too tired to cook. Your future self will thank you when everyone else is melting and you're sipping soup that actually makes you feel cooler, lighter, and ready to function.
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> Recipe Card
PrintWinter Melon Soup with Pork Ribs (Easy TCM Recipe)
Chinese Winter Melon Soup With Pork Ribs 冬瓜湯 is a famous healthy soup in Chinese cuisine. Despite the name, Dong Gua 冬瓜 is best enjoyed during the hottest summer days instead of the cold winter months. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter melon is considered a Yin food with a cooling effect on the body to help clear summer heat and relieve thirst.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 persons 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: Chinese, TCM
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Wintermelon 冬瓜, seeds removed, cubed
- 1 lbs pork tenderloin 瘦肉
- 50 g Euryale ferox 芡實
- 50 g Lotus seed 蓮子
- 50 g Chinese yam 淮山
- 50 g Poria cocos 茯苓
- 50 g Raw Coix seeds 薏米
- 50g Black Eye Peas 眉豆
- 1 L water 水
- salt to taste 鹽少許
Instructions
- Soak the herbs for 5-10 minutes in a small bowl to remove traces of impurities. This will help remove dust and debris. Rinse and set aside in a small bowl.
- Wash with clean water and pat dry the big slab of winter melon.
- Remove seeds, if any.
- Cut the winter melon into large chunks or into small pieces if your soup pot is small.
- Wash the pork ribs, pork shank or tenderloin with cold water and pat dry with a kitchen paper towel. It is only necessary to cut the pork ribs into small pieces if your pot is not big enough.
- Parboil the pork ribs in a medium pot to remove the impurities and excess foam. Rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- To make the Chinese medicines soup, add the winter melon pieces, pork shank and herbal ingredients into a large pot not made of stainless steel like THIS Perfect Pot or a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker. Although not all Chinese herbs react with metal, it is best not to use a metal pot when making Chinese medicinal herbal soups.
- Fill the pot with enough water to cover to make the clear soup stock. We used approximately 4 litres of cold water.
- Boil at high heat for 30 minutes, then reduce to low heat. Simmer for 60 minutes.
- Salt to taste.
- Serve and enjoy
Notes
- The soup ingredients make a comforting dish - the fork-tender meaty pork riblets are a crowd pleasure that goes perfectly with some Chinese Chili Soy Dipping Sauce.
- Next time, buy extra winter melon and braise it in a clay pot with slices of ginger, green onions, dried shrimps, dried shiitake mushrooms, ground meat, spare ribs or pork hocks. It's a delicious main dish that doesn't take much time to prepare!
Instant Pot Variation: Pressure cook 25 minutes on high, natural release 10 minutes. Use only 3 cups water.
Vegetarian Option: Replace pork with 1 cup raw cashews + 2 dried shiitake mushrooms.
Quick Easy Version: Skip herbs, simmer 30 minutes with just winter melon, pork ribs, ginger, salt.
Traditional Dong Gua Tang: Omit Si Shen herbs, add 2-3 dried scallops, simmer 2 hours.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pot
- Calories: 203
- Sugar: 2.5 g
- Sodium: 437.6 mg
- Fat: 6.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.8 g
- Fiber: 3.7 g
- Protein: 20.6 g
- Cholesterol: 49.1 mg
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Fouzia says
Soup with winter melon, whole grains, seeds and lentils sounds nutritious and interesting. Should be good for the coming winter season.
Asha says
I love winter melon. Loved how tasty it was; and how healthy it is too.
Vanessa says
Such a great way to boost immunity with the changing seasons. And can we take a moment for the bowl - so cute!
Nancy says
I'm so happy that you are on board this wellness train! This bowl always makes me so happy when I use it!
Bernice says
This sounds like something I need right now. I'm on antibiotics and they are really playing with my system. Is winter melon really a melon or is it a squash? I am allergic to squash so I just wanted to double check before I head out the T & T.
Nancy says
Winter Melon Squash is not actually a squash; nor is it actually a melon, though it is related to both. Just treated it as a vegetable for Asian cooking. Hope this helps and get well soon!
Marie-Pierre Breton says
First of all, love the Totoro bowl! How cute! Second, lovely, simple yet comforting soup to start the cooler new season with! Sounds dreamy!
Jean says
Super delish, but I omitted the pork and it was still heavenly.
Nancy says
If you are Vegan and wish to omit the meat, you can try subbing with raw cashews. It will give an added creamy boost and extra vitamins / minerals!
Conchetta says
This recipe was a learning journey for me. Lots of new ingredients- and a new pot! So worth it. Delicious and interesting soup. I learn much from this site
Alexandra says
I have always been interested in TCM and the foods to soothe our systems. This soup is delicious and perfect for the warmer weather. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Claudia Cristina Ciorteanu says
Chinese Winter Melon Soup with Pork Ribs is a comforting choice for chilly days. The flavors blend so well, and it warms you up nicely. Delightful!
Andréa Janssen says
Thank you so much about this detailed blog. Never heard of it before, but I'm going to look if I can get my hands on some around here.
Padma says
This soup sounds so light and refreshing! Will make a vegetarian version of it.