Winter Melon with Thickened Shrimp Sauce is a very elegant side dish with a mild shrimp and dashi stock. The winter melon is so soft that it is great for elderly people as well as for babies. See the video.
Don't forget to see the section 'MEAL IDEAS' below the recipe card! It gives you a list of dishes that I have already posted and this recipe that can make up a complete meal. I hope it is of help to you.
- 350g/0.8lb winter melon skin and seeds removed (note 1)
- 60g/2.1oz fresh prawn/shrimps finely chopped (note 2)
- 200ml/6.8fl.oz dashi stock
- 1 tsp light soy sauce (note 3)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp corn flour/cornstarch diluted in 1 tbsp dashi stock above
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Cut the winter melon into about 4cm/1½" cubes, score the skin side of the flesh making about 6 shallow parallel cuts.
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Place the winter melon pieces in a pot. Fill the pot with water to completely submerge the winter melon pieces.
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Bring it to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes over medium heat until the winter melon pieces are almost cooked through (note 4). Drain.
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Put the dashi stock and winter melon pieces in the pot and bring it to a boil.
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Add light soy sauce and salt to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook for about 10 minutes (note 5).
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Add the chopped shrimp to the pot and mix quickly so that the prawn pieces submerge in the broth. Cook for 1 minute.
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Pour the cornflour in a circular motion into the pot and mix to thicken the sauce evenly. Turn the heat off.
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Transfer the winter melon pieces to a serving bowl and pour the shrimp sauce over the top. Place harishōga on top if using.
1. The yield of winter melon is not great. After removing the seeds and skin, you only get about 60% of the original weight. So, you will need approximately 600g of winter melon with seeds and skin on.
There is a generous amount of broth so you can have a bit more winter melon if you like.
If you can't find winter melon, hairy melon is the best alternative. Although it is greener and does not become as transparent as winter melon, the texture and flavour are comparable. See the section WINTER MELON ALTERNATIVES for other options with photos.
2. I used frozen uncooked peeled prawns. You can of course use fresh prawns.
3. You can substitute it with normal soy sauce, but the colour of the thickened sauce will be marginally darker.
4. When you put a bamboo skewer through the winter melon piece, you feel a little resistance, but the skewer can get through.
5. By this time, the winter melon should be very soft, and a skewer should get through with no resistance. If still hard, cook further. You may need to add a small amount of water.
6. Nutrition per serving.
serving: 207g calories: 50kcal fat: 1.1g (2%) saturated fat: 0.2g (1%) trans fat: 0.0g polyunsaturated fat: 0.3g monounsaturated fat: 0.3g cholesterol: 26mg (9%) sodium: 660mg (28%) potassium: 140mg (4%) carbohydrates: 5.6g (2%) dietary fibre: 3.6g (14%) sugar: 0g protein: 5g vitamin a: 0.9% vitamin c: 25% calcium: 2.8% iron: 3.3%