Winter melon has always been a favourite Chinese food, not only for its succulence and fresh flavor, but also for its cooling properties — which soothe the digestive system by counterbalancing the heating properties of meat, chilli, garlic, and other ingredients. Winter melon quickly absorbs the taste of whatever seasonings are added to it, so keep the flavorings to a minimum.
3 tablespoons oil
2 in (5 cm) fresh ginger, grated
1 kg (2 lb) winter melon, peeled, seeded and cut into bite-sized slices
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
125 ml (½ cup) water
1 Heat the oil in a wok over high heat and stir-fry the ginger and winter melon. Continue stir-frying until all the winter melon is coated with oil and the surface begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes.
2 Add the salt, sugar, and water. Cover the wok, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for about 15 minutes, or until thoroughly tender. Transfer to a serving plate.
Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins