Winter melon has a sweet taste, cooling properties, and helps to clear heat from the body, cool the intestines, promote urination, detoxify, and effectively reduce fat. It is also an ingredient widely used in soups. Today, let’s showcase our skills in the kitchen and immediately make a delicious, light, and nutritious vegetarian winter melon soup.
1. Simple Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Simple Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup For 2 people
Winter melon 1 piece (500g) Garlic 2 cloves Green onions 1 stalk Salt 1/2 teaspoon Vegetarian seasoning 1/2 tablespoon Cooking oil 2 tablespoons
Utensils needed
Ingredients image
How to make Simple Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup
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Prepare the ingredients
Peel the winter melon, wash it clean, and slice it thinly.
Peel the garlic, wash it clean, and then mince it. Cut off the yellow leaves and roots of the green onions, wash them clean, and then chop them finely.
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Cook the soup
Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, wait for the oil to heat up, then add all the minced garlic and stir until the garlic turns brown and releases its fragrance, then add the gourd. Stir well for about 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, add 500ml of water, season with 1/2 tablespoon of vegetarian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook for another 5 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning to your family’s preference before adding the chopped green onions and turning off the stove.
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Finished Product
The simple vegetarian winter melon soup has been completed with an enticing aroma, soft winter melon, and a very appealing bright green color. The soup is just right, light and suitable for adding to your family’s daily menu to help cleanse the palate of its members.
2. Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup with Tofu
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup with Tofu For 2 people
Winter melon 1 piece (400gr) Tofu 200 gr Shallots 2 bulbs Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Common spices a little (salt/ pepper/ monosodium glutamate)
Tools Needed
Ingredients Image
How to make Vegetarian Melon Soup with Tofu
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Prepare the ingredients
Peel the melon, wash it clean, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Peel the shallots, cut off the root ends, wash them clean, and slice them thinly.
Wash the tofu, and cut it into bite-sized square pieces.
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Sauté the melon
Place a pot on the stove, add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, wait for the oil to heat up, then add the sliced shallots, stir until the shallots turn brown and release a fragrant aroma, then add the melon and stir well.
Season with 1 tablespoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, and continue to mix well so that the melon absorbs the seasoning.
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Cooking soup
After 5 minutes, add 400ml of water. Cook for about 5 minutes until the squash turns yellow-green and is soft, then add the tofu.
Continue cooking for another 3 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of pepper, adjust the seasoning to suit your family’s taste, and turn off the heat.
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Finished product
The vegetarian squash soup with tofu once completed has an eye-catching yellow-green color, accentuated by a bit of white from the tofu, making it very appealing.
When enjoyed, the squash is soft, infused with flavors, combined with the tender tofu, providing you and your family with a dish that is not only delicious but also nutritious.
3. Vegetarian squash soup with mushrooms
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Melon Soup with Mushrooms For 2 people
Melon 500 gr Tofu 100 gr Pork ribs 200 gr Oyster mushrooms 100 gr Wood ear mushrooms 100 gr Straw mushrooms 200 gr Wheat flour 20 gr Seasoning/ pepper a little Chili powder 1/2 teaspoon
Tools required
How to choose fresh and delicious ingredients
How to choose fresh straw mushrooms
- You should choose mushrooms that are still in bud, not yet bloomed, that feel slightly firm when squeezed, with a slightly round or cylindrical shape.
- Additionally, to make the dish visually appealing, you should select mushrooms that are of uniform size.
- Moreover, you should choose straw mushrooms that are black or gray in color, as these varieties often taste better and have a sweeter flavor compared to white mushrooms.
How to choose good oyster mushrooms
- You should choose mushrooms with a firm stem, a large cap, and that are not torn or crushed.
- Good mushrooms usually have a slightly concave tip and thin fibrous gills under the cap.
- Prioritize selecting clusters of oyster mushrooms that are fresh and have a distinct mushroom aroma.
How to choose good wood ear mushrooms
- You should choose wood ear mushrooms with large, thick ears and few small mushrooms at the base.
- Prioritize selecting mushrooms that are dark amber in color, with a slightly shiny surface and a light coffee color underneath.
- Avoid selecting mushrooms that are too dark, as they may become mushy when soaked in water and are less crunchy.
How to make Vegetarian Melon Soup with Mushrooms
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Prepare the ingredients
Peel the melon, wash it clean, and cut it into pieces about 2 finger lengths thick. Then, scoop out the seeds.
Soak the wood ear mushrooms in cold water for about 10 minutes, then remove, wash clean, and chop finely.
Tip:- To expand the wood ear mushrooms, you only need to soak them in cold water for about 10 – 20 minutes, a maximum of about 3 hours. Soaking too long can cause toxins in the mushrooms to develop and harm your health.
- Absolutely do not soak in hot water as hot water will stimulate the toxins in the mushrooms, easily leading to food poisoning.
To eliminate the odor of straw mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, you should soak them in diluted salt water for about 5 – 10 minutes, then remove and let them drain.
The vegetarian ribs should be soaked in water for about 5 minutes, then removed, squeezed dry, and let drain, then gently tear them into thin strands. After tearing, cut them into small pieces. Similarly, tear and chop the oyster mushrooms as well.
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Mixing mushroom filling
You put the vegetarian ribs, chopped oyster mushrooms, and tofu into the mortar and pound them finely.
After this mixture is smooth, add all the finely chopped wood ear mushrooms, 2 teaspoons of seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Mix this mixture thoroughly.
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Stuffing the gourd
You use a spoon to scoop the filling into the cavity of the gourd that has been removed, gradually stuffing all the filling into all the gourd slices.
Once completed, sprinkle a layer of flour on the surface of the stuffed mushrooms to increase the adhesion of this filling.
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Stir-fried mushrooms
Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, wait for the oil to heat up, then add the straw mushrooms and stir-fry for about 3 minutes.
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Cooking the soup
After 3 minutes, pour in about 500ml of water and add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder. Cook for about 5 minutes until the water boils, then gently drop all the stuffed gourd in.
After about 5 minutes, the gourd and mushrooms are cooked, taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking, then turn off the heat.
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Final product
The vegetarian gourd soup with mushrooms after completion has an eye-catching color and an enticing aroma, blending the gourd and mushrooms in a very pleasant way.
The gourd retains its fresh green color and sweetness when tasted, harmonizing with the mushroom filling that is just right, with a light flavor, not too oily, helping to cleanse the palate for a more delicious family meal.
4. Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup with Peanuts
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup with Peanuts For 2 people
Pumpkin 1 piece (500g) Fresh Peanuts 300 g (peanut) Shallots 2 bulbs Spring onions 3 stalks Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Seasoning powder 1 teaspoon Bouillon powder 1 teaspoon
Tools needed
Ingredient image
How to make Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup with Peanuts
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Prepare the ingredients
Peel the pumpkin, wash it clean, then cut it into chunks, remove the seeds, and shred it thinly.
Peel the shallots, wash them clean, then slice them. Cut off the yellowed parts of the spring onions, wash them clean, and chop them finely.
Wash the peanuts thoroughly in multiple waters to remove dirt, then drain. After that, separate the peanuts to get the seeds.
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Pound and stir-fry the peanuts
Put the peanuts in a mortar and pound them finely.
Place a pot on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, wait for the oil to heat up, then add all the shallots and stir-fry until the shallots turn golden brown and fragrant, then add the pounded peanuts.
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Cook the soup
After stir-frying the peanuts, add about 500ml of water, season with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder and 1 teaspoon of seasoning granules. Cook for about 15 minutes, then add all the melon and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
Adjust the seasoning to suit your family’s taste, add the green onions, and turn off the stove.
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Final product
The melon soup with peanuts is completed with vibrant green colors and a strong aroma. When enjoying, you will feel the rich flavor and slight creaminess from the peanuts, which is very unique and makes the vegetarian meal no longer boring.
How to choose fresh and delicious melon
- Good melons are large, have a firm and plump skin, and are green.
- You should limit choosing melons that are too dark green, as they are usually older, have many seeds, and can taste a bit sour.
- You can also check by holding them; choose those that feel sturdy and a bit heavy.
How to choose fresh and delicious tofu
- You should choose pieces that have an off-white color, avoid pieces that are too white or too yellow, as they may contain gypsum, which is not good for health.
- You can check by holding them; you should choose tofu pieces that feel light in hand, have a soft surface, and are not slimy.
- At the same time, to ensure the quality of the tofu, you should buy from reputable stores that have a brand and clear expiration dates.
- Alternatively, you can also make tofu at home following detailed instructions from TasteVN via the link below.
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With the guide to making 4 dishes of vegetarian melon soup, you will surely succeed, surprising your family members and enriching your daily meals. TasteVN wishes you success.
*Refer to the recipe and images from the YouTube channel Vegan TV, Hong Nhom, Life Knowledge, and Vietnamese Housewife.
