Braised Winter Melon

5 from 8 votes

This braised winter melon recipe (红烧冬瓜 - hóngshāo dōngguā) is a simple, healthy, and delicious side dish that really highlights this subtle ingredient.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Side Dish, Vegetables

Cuisine: Chinese

Servings:

Calories: 87kcal

Author: Judy

Ingredients

1½ pounds winter melon (seeds and skin removed)
2 tablespoons neutral oil (such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon minced ginger
1 scallion (finely chopped; white and green parts separated)
1 tablespoon oyster sauce (or vegetarian oyster sauce)
½ teaspoon dark soy sauce
⅛ teaspoon white pepper
½ to 1 cup water
1 star anise (optional)
Salt to taste (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Process the winter melon by scooping out the seeds in the center. Trim off the peel and the tough green underlayer. Wash off any white powder left behind by the peel, then cut the melon into 1” x 1.5” (3-4cm) chunks.
Heat the oil in wok with medium heat, lightly brown both sides of the winter melon pieces, about 3 minutes per side.
Next, add the garlic, ginger, and the white parts of the scallion. Cook them for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Then add the oyster sauce, dark soy sauce and white pepper. Mix everything well.
Add the water and star anise (if using). Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the winter melon is fork tender. (If there is still too much liquid, turn up the heat and stir for a couple of minutes to reduce and thicken the sauce).
Taste and add salt if needed. Toss in the scallion greens, and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Braised Winter Melon by The Woks of Life. Recipe URL: https://body-goals.fit/braised-winter-melon/%3C/em%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cscript%3Ewindow.wprm_recipes = {"recipe-79856":{"type":"food","name":"Braised Winter Melon","slug":"wprm-braised-winter-melon","image_url":"https:\/\/thewoksoflife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/braised-winter-melon-15-scaled.jpg","rating":{"count":8,"total":40,"average":5,"type":{"comment":8,"no_comment":0,"user":0},"user":0},"ingredients":[{"uid":1,"amount":"1\u00bd","unit":"pounds","name":"winter melon","notes":"(seeds and skin removed)","converted":{"2":{"amount":"680","unit":"g","unit_id":5264}},"unit_id":5258,"id":4544,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"1\u00bd","unit":"pounds","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1\u00bd","unit":"pounds","unitParsed":"pounds"},"unit-system-2":{"amount":"680","unit":"g","unitParsed":"g"}}},{"uid":2,"amount":"2","unit":"tablespoons","name":"neutral oil","notes":"(such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil)","converted":{"2":{"amount":"30","unit":"ml","unit_id":5271}},"unit_id":5259,"id":1095,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"2","unit":"tablespoons","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"2","unit":"tablespoons","unitParsed":"tablespoons"},"unit-system-2":{"amount":"30","unit":"ml","unitParsed":"ml"}}},{"uid":3,"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","name":"minced garlic","notes":"","unit_id":5262,"id":685,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","unitParsed":"tablespoon"}}},{"uid":4,"amount":"\u00bd","unit":"teaspoon","name":"minced ginger","notes":"","unit_id":5268,"id":639,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"\u00bd","unit":"teaspoon","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"\u00bd","unit":"teaspoon","unitParsed":"teaspoon"}}},{"uid":5,"amount":"1","unit":"","name":"scallion","notes":"(finely chopped; white and green parts separated)","id":446,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"1","unit":"","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1","unit":"","unitParsed":""}}},{"uid":6,"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","name":"oyster sauce","notes":"(or vegetarian oyster sauce)","unit_id":5262,"id":412,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","unitParsed":"tablespoon"}}},{"uid":7,"amount":"\u00bd","unit":"teaspoon","name":"dark soy sauce","notes":"","unit_id":5268,"id":274,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"\u00bd","unit":"teaspoon","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"\u00bd","unit":"teaspoon","unitParsed":"teaspoon"}}},{"uid":8,"amount":"\u215b","unit":"teaspoon","name":"white pepper","notes":"","unit_id":5268,"id":314,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"\u215b","unit":"teaspoon","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"\u215b","unit":"teaspoon","unitParsed":"teaspoon"}}},{"uid":9,"amount":"\u00bd to 1","unit":"cup","name":"water","notes":"","converted":{"2":{"amount":"120-240","unit":"ml","unit_id":5271}},"unit_id":5269,"id":332,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"\u00bd to 1","unit":"cup","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"\u00bd to 1","unit":"cup","unitParsed":"cup"},"unit-system-2":{"amount":"120-240","unit":"ml","unitParsed":"ml"}}},{"uid":10,"amount":"1","unit":"","name":"star anise","notes":"(optional)","converted":{"2":{"amount":"","unit":""}},"id":638,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"1","unit":"","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1","unit":"","unitParsed":""}}},{"uid":11,"amount":"","unit":"","name":"Salt to taste","notes":"(optional)","converted":{"2":{"amount":"","unit":""}},"id":1005,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"","unit":"","timestamp":1774161395000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"","unit":"","unitParsed":""}}}],"originalServings":"4","originalServingsParsed":4,"currentServings":"4","currentServingsParsed":4,"currentServingsFormatted":"4","currentServingsMultiplier":1,"originalSystem":1,"currentSystem":1,"unitSystems":[1,2],"originalAdvancedServings":{"shape":"round","unit":"inch","diameter":0,"width":0,"length":0,"height":0},"currentAdvancedServings":{"shape":"round","unit":"inch","diameter":0,"width":0,"length":0,"height":0}}}