Gourd soup is a delicious soup dish that is sweet, refreshing, and very simple to prepare. Join us in the kitchen with TasteVN and discover 2 recipes for cooking gourd soup with dried shrimp and fresh shrimp to add variety to your family meals!
1. Gourd soup with dried shrimp
-
Preparation
10 minutes
-
Cooking
15 minutes
-
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Gourd soup with dried shrimp For 4 people
Aromatic gourd 300 gr (about 1 – 2 fruits) Dried shrimp 150 gr Garlic 2 cloves Green onions 2 stalks Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Common spices a little (salt/ seasoning/ pepper)
How to choose good dried shrimp
- Choose dried shrimp that have a natural orange color or slightly yellow, with a natural smell.
- When touched, they should feel firm, have a certain level of dryness, and not be damp.
- Avoid buying dried shrimp that have unusual bright colors, show black or white spots, have strange smells, or are moldy.
- If you have time, you can also make dried shrimp at home to ensure hygiene!
How to make Dried Shrimp Melon Soup
-
Prepare the ingredients
Peel the aromatic melon using a knife, wash it thoroughly, and cut it diagonally into bite-sized pieces.
Remove the roots from the green onions, wash them well, and chop them finely.
Peel the garlic, wash it clean, let it dry, and mince it finely.
Tip: When peeling, peel very thinly and gently to maintain the crispness and firmness of the aromatic melon for better tasting.
-
Sauté the dried shrimp
Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Wait for the oil to heat up, then add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
When the garlic is fragrant, add all the dried shrimp and sauté continuously over medium heat for about 3 – 5 minutes until the shrimp is cooked and slightly firm, then turn off the heat.
-
Cooking soup
Place a pot of boiling water (about 500ml) on the stove, add all the sautéed shrimp, add 1 tablespoon of seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and then boil for about 7 – 10 minutes until the shrimp is cooked and the soup is sweet.
After that, add the sliced gourd into the pot, gently press down so that the gourd is submerged in water, increase the heat and boil for about 5 more minutes until the gourd is cooked, then turn off the heat, taste and adjust the seasoning, add chopped green onions, 1 teaspoon of pepper, stir well and serve in a bowl.
Tip:
- To make the soup clearer and more delicious, remember to skim off the foam while cooking.
- When adding the gourd, increase the heat so that the gourd stays green and doesn’t become mushy when cooked.
-
Final product
Gourd soup with dried shrimp has a sweet and light taste, with chewy and sweet dried shrimp blending with the crispy and delicious gourd, promising to be a dish that your whole family will love.
You can enjoy it right when the soup is hot, or serve it with white rice, which is also very suitable and appetizing. Wish you a good meal!
2. Fresh gourd soup with shrimp
-
Preparation
15 minutes
-
Cooking
15 minutes
-
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Fresh gourd soup with shrimp Serves 4
Fresh shrimp 200 g (white shrimp or tiger shrimp) Aromatic gourd 1 piece (large size) Green onion 2 stalks Cilantro 2 stalks Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Common seasoning A little (salt/ sugar/ monosodium glutamate/ seasoning powder/ pepper)
How to choose fresh and delicious shrimp
- Choose shrimp that have transparent legs and are tightly attached to the body.
- The shrimp body is slightly curved, the meat is firm, and the shrimp are not too large.
- The shrimp shell is intact, and the head is tightly attached to the body. The shrimp tail is neatly folded, not spread out or missing.
- The shrimp have a natural smell and no strange odors. It is best to buy shrimp from reputable establishments to ensure quality.
How to prepare Fresh Shrimp Melon Soup
-
Prepare the shrimp
After purchasing the shrimp, use a toothpick to remove the intestinal cord on the back of the shrimp.
Peel off the shell and head of the shrimp, then rinse thoroughly and let it drain.
Quick way to remove the black cord on the back of the shrimp
- Count backwards from the tail of the shrimp to the second groove connecting the two segments of the shrimp shell, pierce the toothpick through this spot and gently pull the black cord to remove it.
- You don’t need to use a knife to cut the back of the shrimp; you can also use a toothpick to pry the head of the shrimp out to see the black cord. Gently pull this black cord out with your hand, and the shrimp will be clean.
-
Prepare other ingredients
After purchasing the melon, use a knife to peel off the skin, wash it thoroughly, let it drain, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Wash the green onion tops, chop them small, and set them aside.
Wash the remaining leaves of the green onion and cilantro, let them drain, and then chop them small.
-
Cooking the Soup
Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil into the pot. Wait for the oil to heat up, then add the chopped green onion, sauté over medium heat until the onions are golden and fragrant.
Next, add the cleaned shrimp into the pot, stir until the shrimp firm up, then pour in about 500ml of water, boil for about 7 – 10 minutes until the water is fully boiling.
Season with 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 tablespoon of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, then add the cleaned gourd, and stir well.
Simmer the mixture for another 3 – 4 minutes until it boils again, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, then turn off the heat and serve in a bowl. Sprinkle an additional 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, 2 sprigs of green onion, and chopped cilantro to make the soup more appealing.
-
Final Product
The fresh shrimp and gourd soup is complete. The sweet and delicate flavor of the gourd blends with the sweetness of the shrimp, creating a very delicious and appealing soup.
How to choose fresh and delicious gourd
- Choose gourd fruits that are medium to small in size, as they will be sweeter and more fragrant.
- The gourd should be elongated, long, with uniform color and no black spots.
- Fresh gourd has a dark green color, is firm, not too soft, and has a natural fragrant smell.
See more:
2 ways to cook soup with bottle gourd, dried shrimp, and fresh shrimp are really delicious, attractive, and extremely simple to make, aren’t they? Show off your cooking skills and make it right away for your family to enjoy. Wishing you success with the recipe from TasteVN!
*Refer to the recipe and images from the YouTube channel 306 Vlog and HANG CAN COOK
