How to make sweet and sour pickled vegetables from the Mekong Delta with a strong taste of home

How to Prepare Western Pickled Melon

• 1

  Wash rice to get water

  You take 100 gr of rice in a large bowl and use boiled water that has cooled to wash the rice. After that, you pour the rice washing water into another bowl and put it in the refrigerator to store overnight.

  

  

  
• 2

  Prepare the melon

  You wash the melon clean and then cut it into 4 pieces, next you use a spoon to scrape out the seeds of the melon. After that, wash it again and let it drain.

  

  

  

  
• 3

  Pickled Melon

  First, pour 1.2 liters of water and 100 grams of salt into a pot, then cook for about 5 minutes until the water boils and the salt completely dissolves, then turn off the heat and let the brine cool.

  Place the melon in a small bowl, then add the cooled brine, 1 bowl (rice bowl) of rice washing water mixed with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 bowl of water.

  To ensure the pickled melon tastes good and does not spoil, you must cover the surface of the bowl tightly and use some other objects to weigh it down so that the melon stays submerged in the water. Let the melon soak for 4 days.

  

  

  
• 4

  Making Sugar Syrup

  Place a pan on the stove, add 75 grams of brown sugar, then dissolve the chi tree seeds in 50 ml of water to extract the yellow color and pour it into the pan.

  Next, cook the sugar over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the sugar completely dissolves and boils, then continue to add 100 ml of water to the pan and stir well for about 1 minute before turning off the stove, and let the syrup cool.

  

  

  

  
• 5

  Mix the melon with rock sugar

  After soaking the gourd for 4 days, take it out, rinse with cooled boiled water, and squeeze out excess water from the melon. Next, cut the melon into thin pieces that are easy to eat. Then, use a knife to chop the rock sugar into small pieces and add it to a bowl.

  After that, place the cut melon into a small basin, add the rock sugar and cooled syrup, and mix well with your hands. Let the melon soak for about 6 hours for the melon to blend with the color of the sugar.

  

  

  

  
• 6

  Make the seasoning

  You put 30 grams of roasted rice into the blender, then grind it finely to make the seasoning.

  

  
• 7

  Make the fish sauce

  You take 2 chili peppers, remove the seeds, and then pound them finely with garlic. Next, you add the juice of 1 lemon to create acidity, finally add 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and stir well.

  

  

  
• 8

  Mix the melon with fish sauce and seasoning

  You take the melon out, squeeze out excess water, then put it in a bowl, add some slices of chili, fish sauce, and garlic, then use your hands to mix well for about 1 minute.

  Next, you add the seasoning and continue to mix so that the melon is well combined with the spices and seasoning. Note, depending on your preference, you can add more or less seasoning.

  

  

  

  
• 9

  Finished Product

  So the Southern pickles dish is complete, and when you eat it, you will feel the cantaloupe retains its crunchiness, which is very enjoyable. Additionally, the pickles will have a sweet and sour taste blended with the seasoning, making the dish even more appealing.