Winter Melon with Minced Pork Recipe

minced pork

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground chicken

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground chicken is often cheaper.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: tamari

💰Cheaper: liquid aminos

Tamari is gluten-free, while liquid aminos can be less salty.

oyster sauce

🥗Healthier: hoisin sauce

💰Cheaper: soy sauce

Hoisin sauce offers a similar sweetness without shellfish.

sesame oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Canola oil is neutral and often less expensive.

Cut out both ends of the winter melon and peel off the skin using a peeler.

Wash the winter melon after peeling.

Cut the winter melon vertically in half; if the seeds are young, leave them in, otherwise remove old seeds.

Cut the winter melon into very thin slices for shorter cooking time.

Heat a pan on high heat for 1-2 minutes.

Add all the garlic oil to the pan and wait for it to heat up.

Add ginger stripes to the pan and stir until lightly soft and fragrant.

Add minced pork to the pan, spreading it out with a spatula.

Add light soy sauce, pepper, sesame oil, and about 1/2 tsp of garlic in oil to the pork.

Stir until the minced pork is well combined with the seasonings and has changed to a pale color, about 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Allow the minced pork to simmer for about 1 minute and 30 seconds to release some juices.

Add winter melon to the pan and stir a couple of times.

Add oyster sauce and half of the remaining garlic in oil to the pan, stirring until well combined.

Cover the pan and let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.

After 3 minutes, open the lid to check; stir and cover again for another 2 minutes.

After 2 minutes, check the winter melon; it should be cooked perfectly and fragrant.

Switch off the heat and taste the dish.

Sprinkle spring onions and stir to combine before serving.

Garnish with the remaining crispy garlic in oil and spring onions.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens