Winter Melon Stir Fry
This quick and easy winter melon stir fry uses Chinese dried shrimp to add a super umami flavor. It’s a perfect side dish to add texture, flavor, and nutrition to your dinner table. {Gluten-Free}
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Course: Side
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: home style
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Maggie Zhu
- 1/2 carrot , cut into 2x1/2” (6x1 cm) batons (about 4 oz) (Optional) (*Footnote 1)
- 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) winter melon , peeled and cut into 2x1/2” (6x1 cm) batons
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil
- 2 tablespoons papery shrimp (*Footnote 2)
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 long green pepper , sliced (Optional) (*Footnote 3)
- 1/2 teaspoons mushroom powder (or chicken powder) (*Footnote 4)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Slurry
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon water
Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Stir to mix well and set aside.
Prepare a large skillet and add about 3” (8 cm) of water. Bring to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Add the carrots and boil for 1 minute. Add the winter melon and boil for another 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly softened but not yet translucent. Drain the cooked vegetables and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside in a big plate.
Return the pan to the stove and wipe clean with a paper towel. Add the oil and heat over medium heat until hot. Add the papery shrimp. Stir and cook until the shrimp turn golden, 1 minute or so.
Add the garlic and stir a few times to release the fragrance.
Add the pepper. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
Add the blanched carrot and winter melon, mushroom powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until the seasonings are evenly distributed and the winter melon turns tender but is not falling apart, 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir the slurry ingredients again to fully dissolve the cornstarch and pour it over the vegetables. Stir gently until the sauce thickens slightly, 1 minute or so. Carefully taste the winter melon and add more salt, if needed.
Serve hot as a side dish.
- I added the carrots to add color. This recipe will still work if you use only winter melon and skip the other vegetables.
- I prefer to add a ton of papery shrimp to add a strong flavor. If you do not wish to add too much seafood taste, you can reduce the shrimp to 1 tablespoon and add 1/2 teaspoon more mushroom powder.
- Mild green pepper adds a bit of spiciness and crisp texture to the dish. It’s totally OK to skip this if you want a milder dish or want to simplify the recipe.
- If you reduce the quantity of papery shrimp, you should add more mushroom (or chicken) powder to add more umami taste.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 20.4g, Protein: 4.5g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 0.8g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 330mg, Potassium: 634mg, Fiber: 2.9g, Sugar: 16.7g, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg