Soups are something that seems indispensable in a Vietnamese family meal due to their convenience in preparation as well as their deliciousness and variety. Today, let’s join TasteVN in the kitchen to prepare 2 ways of cooking fresh gourd soup with shrimp for the family during the weekend!
1. Fresh gourd soup with shrimp
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Preparation
25 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Fresh gourd soup with shrimp Serves 2 people
Fresh shrimp 200 gr Gourd 1 piece Shallots 2 bulbs Spring onion A little Cooking oil 1/2 tablespoon Common spices A little (salt/ monosodium glutamate/ seasoning powder/ ground pepper)
How to choose fresh, delicious ingredients
How to choose fresh shrimp
- You should choose live shrimp to ensure the dish’s deliciousness. These are the shrimp that are still moving actively, with their bodies intact, and their antennae and legs still firmly attached to their bodies.
- Pay attention to the exterior of the shrimp; they should have a transparent shell, the tail should still be curled, the body should be slightly curved, and the joints on the body should be flexible for them to be considered fresh.
- Avoid buying shrimp with spread tails, legs, and heads that seem to be about to detach from the body, uneven coloration on the body, or soft, mushy bodies.
How to make Fresh Shrimp Melon Soup
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Prepare and marinate the shrimp
After buying the shrimp, remove the head, peel off the shell, and devein the back. Then wash them clean and chop them finely.
Next, marinate the shrimp with 1 teaspoon of seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and let it sit for about 20 minutes for the shrimp to absorb the flavors.
How to quickly and cleanly devein shrimp
- You can devein the shrimp by making a slit on the back of the shrimp and then using the sharp end of a toothpick to pull out the vein.
- Alternatively, you can bend the shrimp’s head and gently squeeze from the tail up to expose the vein, then hold the vein and pull it out gently.
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Prepare other ingredients
Peel the melon, wash it clean, and then slice it thinly to your liking.
Peel the shallots, wash them clean, and chop them finely. Wash the scallions and chop them small.
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Cook the soup
Place a pot on the stove, add 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil into the pot. Wait for the oil to heat up, then add the shallots and sauté until fragrant.
When the shallots are fragrant, add the shrimp and stir-fry for about 2 minutes until the shrimp are cooked and firm, then add 1 liter of water and bring to a boil.
Once the water in the pot boils, skim off the foam, add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, and add all the melon.
Gently press down the melon to submerge it in water, boil over high heat for an additional 2 minutes until the soup boils again, then taste and adjust the seasoning before turning off the heat.
Scoop the soup into a bowl, sprinkle with a little chopped green onion and ground pepper for aroma, and it can be served immediately.
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Finished Product
Fresh gourd soup cooked with shrimp, featuring a light and delicious broth, is definitely a must-try choice for family meals.
Crispy gourd, cooked just right so it’s not too soft, and firm, sweet shrimp, served with white rice is simply perfect!
We invite you to check out another way to cook fresh gourd soup with shrimp from TasteVN:
View details: How to cook fresh gourd soup with sweet shrimp for the whole family
2. Dried Shrimp Gourd Soup
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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty Level
Easy
Ingredients for Dried Shrimp Gourd Soup Serves 3 people
Gourd 1 piece Dried shrimp 30 grams Green onions 3 stalks Cilantro 3 stalks Filtered water 300 ml Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Common seasoning a little (salt/ sugar/ seasoning powder/ monosodium glutamate/ ground pepper)
How to choose delicious, quality dried shrimp
- Color: Preferably choose dried shrimp that has a bright natural red color (the color of the shrimp’s roe) as this is the characteristic color of delicious dried shrimp. If the shrimp is light red or dark red, it is likely that the shrimp has been stored for a long time and cooked before drying, or the shrimp has been dyed with colorants.
- Shape: If you feel the firmness, dryness, do not smell any strange odors, and the shells, legs, and gills are clean, then it is good shrimp. When squeezed, if the shrimp does not break apart, it is also a sign of quality shrimp. You should pay attention to this point!
- Taste: Shrimp made from sea shrimp may still have sand particles and a very characteristic fishy smell of the sea. Dried shrimp made from freshwater shrimp (river) generally has a sweeter taste than sea shrimp. Additionally, sea shrimp also has a fishier smell than freshwater shrimp.
How to cook Melon Soup with Dried Shrimp
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Prepare the ingredients
After purchasing, peel the melon, wash it clean, drain, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and place it on a dish.
Wash the dried shrimp and soak it in warm water or filtered water for about 15 – 20 minutes to soften the shrimp.
For the green onions and coriander, cut off the roots, remove the wilted leaves, and wash them clean to drain.
Use a knife to split the green onion into the bulb and the green part. The green part of the onion and coriander should be chopped finely.
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Pound the dried shrimp
After the dried shrimp has softened, take the dried shrimp out of the bowl. Then, put the dried shrimp, the chopped green onion, and 1/3 teaspoon of ground pepper into a mortar and pound the shrimp until slightly crushed.
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Cooked Winter Melon Soup with Dried Shrimp
Place a pot on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, and wait for the oil to heat up before adding the dried shrimp mixture, stirring well until fragrant.
Next, add 300ml of water to the pot, boil on high heat until the water boils, then add the winter melon. After that, season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavor of the soup, then cook for about 10 minutes.
Then, continue to simmer on medium heat until the winter melon is just cooked, then add the chopped scallions. Finally, adjust the seasoning to taste and turn off the heat.
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Finished Product
Pour the soup into a bowl, sprinkle with a little ground pepper, and enjoy right away! The winter melon soup with dried shrimp is enticing, with the sweet and fragrant taste of the dried shrimp blending perfectly with the fresh sweetness of the melon, making everyone fall in love.
This soup is best served with hot rice to make the meal more delicious, refreshing for hot days. Let’s get into the kitchen and try it out!
How to choose fresh and delicious pumpkin
- To choose a delicious pumpkin, you should select those that are straight, have a natural green skin, feel firm and heavy. There should be no signs of wormholes on the surface.
- Delicious pumpkins usually have a large and thick stem. Pressing the body of the pumpkin with your hand will allow you to feel the firmness and juiciness of the pumpkin.
- You should not choose pumpkins that are soft; these are the ones that have withered, and when cooked, they will not retain their sweetness, freshness, and distinctive flavor.
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Above are 2 ways to cook gourd soup with shrimp that are refreshing and delicious for a meal that is full of flavor and satisfaction. Let’s get into the kitchen and make it right away to treat your family to a delicious and cozy meal, wishing you success!
