Winter Melon & Pork Meatball Soup

By Micki Brown
Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 pound 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 pounds 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.