Recipe: Shark's Fin Melon Soup 鱼翅瓜汤

Do not be mistaken. This is NOT Shark's Fin Soup with melon. This soup is made with a type of melon called Shark's Fin Melon (鱼翅瓜). This melon is so named because once cooked, the flesh will disintegrate into transparent strands that resembles shark's fins. Do not confuse this melon with it's cousin, Winter Melon although you could prepare them practically the same way! Here are some benefits of the Shark's Fin Melon: - Low in calories  - Expels heatiness - Decreases blood sugar I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Bon appetit!

Ingredients A: Half a Shark's Fin Melon (peeled, seeds removed and sliced into chunks) 1 Carrot (peeled, sliced into chunks) Spare Ribs 250gm (blanched in boiling water) Ingredients B: (All to be soaked in water till softened. Retain the liquid to be added into the soup) 6 Red Dates (红枣) 2 Dried Honey Dates (蜜枣)  1 tbsp Wolfberries/Goji (枸杞) Optional: 3 pcs Dried Oysters (耗豉) 3 pcs Dried Scallop/Conpoy (瑶柱) Instructions: 1) Boil a pot of water (1.8L) 2) Add Ingredients A 3) Add Ingredients B except Wolfberries/Goji 4) Allow to boil, then reduce fire to simmer for 45 - 60 minutes 5) Add Wolfberries/Goji ten minutes before serving 6) Serves 4

Note: For a richer taste, continue to boil the soup after removing melons from the pot once cooked to desired texture.  Do not overcook the melons or they will turn mushy. This melon does not turn mushy as easily as the Winter Melon.