Winter Melon & Pork Meatball Soup

By Micki Brown
Serves 4

 

Category
Yields1 Serving
 1 lb ground pork
 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
 2 tsp garlic, minced
 2 tbsp cooking sake
 2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
 1 ½ tsp sea salt
 1 egg
 2 tbsp corn starch
 1 ½ lbs winter melon, seeds and rind removed
 5 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
 1 tbsp dried cilantro or ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1

Combine the pork, ginger, garlic, sake, soy sauce, sea salt, egg and corn starch in a medium bowl. Shape into meatballs – about 1 tablespoon each

2

Cut the melon into eighths lengthwise, then cut each into ½-inch slices.

3

In a Dutch oven, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the meatballs slowly, one at a time. Stir gently 2 or 3 times, then transfer the meatballs to a plate. They won’t be fully cooked yet.

4

Add the winter melon to the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until the melon begins to soften

5

Gently add the meatballs to the broth and melon. Bring back to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, cover and allow soup to rest for 5 or 6 minutes. Stir in the cilantro. Serve and enjoy.

Ingredients

 1 lb ground pork
 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
 2 tsp garlic, minced
 2 tbsp cooking sake
 2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
 1 ½ tsp sea salt
 1 egg
 2 tbsp corn starch
 1 ½ lbs winter melon, seeds and rind removed
 5 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
 1 tbsp dried cilantro or ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

1

Combine the pork, ginger, garlic, sake, soy sauce, sea salt, egg and corn starch in a medium bowl. Shape into meatballs – about 1 tablespoon each

2

Cut the melon into eighths lengthwise, then cut each into ½-inch slices.

3

In a Dutch oven, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the meatballs slowly, one at a time. Stir gently 2 or 3 times, then transfer the meatballs to a plate. They won’t be fully cooked yet.

4

Add the winter melon to the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until the melon begins to soften

5

Gently add the meatballs to the broth and melon. Bring back to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, cover and allow soup to rest for 5 or 6 minutes. Stir in the cilantro. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Winter Melon & Pork Meatball Soup