Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang

Chinese dish ready in 30 min using easy-level technique. Simple enough for weeknight cooking.

Jump to Recipe
Prep
10m
Cook
20m
Total
30m
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Spice
1/5
Cuisine
Chinese

IngredientsWhat you'll need for Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang

Ingredient Amount Notes
Winter Melon 500g Peeled and seeded
Ground Pork 300g Front or hind leg, with a little fat
Ginger 4 slices Minced
Egg White 1 as needed For springy texture
Light Soy Sauce 1 tbsp
Oyster Sauce ½ tbsp
Salt to taste
Green Onion 1 stalk Chopped, for garnish
  • Winter Melon500gPeeled and seeded
  • Ground Pork300gFront or hind leg, with a little fat
  • Ginger4 slicesMinced
  • Egg White1 as neededFor springy texture
  • Light Soy Sauce1 tbsp
  • Oyster Sauce½ tbsp
  • Saltto taste
  • Green Onion1 stalkChopped, for garnish

Cooking StepsHow to cook Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang step by step

  1. Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang
    Step 1

    In a large bowl, combine ground pork, minced ginger, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, ½ tbsp oyster sauce, a pinch of salt, and egg white. Mix vigorously in one direction until the mixture becomes sticky.

  2. Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang
    Step 2

    Peel the winter melon and cut into chunks. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the winter melon and cook on high heat for about 10 minutes until tender.

  3. Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang
    Step 3

    Reduce heat to low. Squeeze the meat mixture through your thumb and forefinger to form small meatballs. Drop them gently into the simmering soup. Return to high heat and cook for about 5 minutes until fully cooked.

  4. Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang
    Step 4

    Skim off any foam from the surface. Add salt to taste. Sprinkle with chopped green onion.

  5. Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang
    Step 5

    Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot. The meatballs are springy and full of flavor, while the winter melon is silky and absorbs the savory broth perfectly.

Winter Melon Meatball Soup — Donggua Wanzi Tang

Chinese dish ready in 30 min using easy-level technique. Simple enough for weeknight cooking.

Ingredients

  • 500g Winter Melon (Peeled and seeded)
  • 300g Ground Pork (Front or hind leg, with a little fat)
  • 4 slices Ginger (Minced)
  • 1 as needed Egg White (For springy texture)
  • 1 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
  • ½ tbsp Oyster Sauce
  • to taste Salt
  • 1 stalk Green Onion (Chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine ground pork, minced ginger, 1 tbsp light soy sauce, ½ tbsp oyster sauce, a pinch of salt, and egg white. Mix vigorously in one direction until the mixture becomes sticky.

  2. Peel the winter melon and cut into chunks. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the winter melon and cook on high heat for about 10 minutes until tender.

  3. Reduce heat to low. Squeeze the meat mixture through your thumb and forefinger to form small meatballs. Drop them gently into the simmering soup. Return to high heat and cook for about 5 minutes until fully cooked.

  4. Skim off any foam from the surface. Add salt to taste. Sprinkle with chopped green onion.

  5. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot. The meatballs are springy and full of flavor, while the winter melon is silky and absorbs the savory broth perfectly.

Recipe Details

Common Questions

How can I make this spicier?

Add chili oil or chili crisp to taste, or include dried red chilies during cooking. A dash of Sichuan peppercorn adds a different kind of heat.