Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup with Chinese Ham and Goji Berries
A soothing Cantonese soup featuring delicate winter melon simmered slowly with savory Chinese ham and sweet goji berries for balanced flavor. This chinese-inspired soups ready in about 85 minutes pairs thinly sliced Chinese ham, goji berries, chicken broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 110 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 500 g, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes winter melon
- 100 g, thinly sliced Chinese ham
- 1 tbsp goji berries
- 4 pieces, soaked and sliced dried shiitake mushrooms
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 3 slices ginger slices
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 2 stalks, chopped for garnish spring onions
Instructions
- Step 1: Soak 4 dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes until softened, then slice thinly.
- Step 2: In a large pot, bring 6 cups chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Add 3 slices ginger, 500 g peeled and cubed winter melon, 100 g thinly sliced Chinese ham, sliced shiitake mushrooms, and 1 tbsp goji berries.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, covered, for 1 hour until the winter melon becomes translucent and tender.
- Step 4: Season the soup with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp white pepper, stirring gently to combine.
- Step 5: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with 2 chopped spring onions before serving warm.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup with Chinese Ham and Goji Berries take to make?
Total time is about 85 minutes (15 min prep + 70 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup with Chinese Ham and Goji Berries?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep thinly sliced chinese ham from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup with Chinese Ham and Goji Berries?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup with Chinese Ham and Goji Berries for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup with Chinese Ham and Goji Berries?
Chinese soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
