Winter melon is a nutritious melon that contains a variety of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Among them, fenugreek is a unique substance of winter melon, which has the effect of promoting metabolism and preventing fat accumulation. In addition, winter melon is also rich in dietary fiber, which helps prevent constipation and is very beneficial to human health. In winter, due to the lower temperatures, the taste and nutritional value of winter melon are even better. At this time, the ripeness of winter melon is appropriate, the market is abundant and affordable, so it is the best time to buy winter melon.
1.Choose winter melon: Choose a winter melon with smooth skin, heavy bubbles, and a slightly tender touch, which will taste better and be easier to dry.
2.Cleaning and peeling: Thoroughly wash the soil and white ash on the surface of winter melon with tap water and scrub it with a scouring pad, which can be cleaner and save time and effort. Peel off the skin of the winter melon, being careful not to cut it too thin or too thick.
3.Slicing and seed processing: Cut the winter melon into small pieces, generally about half a centimeter thick. Then use a spoon to remove the gourd from the gourd, do not throw it away, it can be used to make other delicacies.
4.Pickled winter melon slices: Put the cut winter melon into a large basin, add an appropriate amount of salt, and marinate for ten hours. It is best to start marinating in the evening and remove it the next morning.
5.Wash and prepare to dry: Wash the pickled winter melon slices with water to make sure that all the salt on the surface is washed off. Then wear the winter melon slices on the bamboo poles, leaving a little space between each slice to prevent them from sticking together. Hang the winter melon slices outdoors to dry, and carry the dried winter melon slices indoors every day to avoid resurgence.
6.Storage of dried winter melon: Sun-dried winter melon slices can be sealed in a plastic bag or placed in a sealed glass jar. Make sure that the seal is good to avoid the deterioration of the winter melon.
1.Prepare the ingredients: Soak an appropriate amount of dried winter melon in warm water for half an hour, then control the water and set aside. Slice the pork belly thinly and prepare the garlic slices, ginger and red and green peppers.
2.Stir-frying process: Pour a small amount of cooking oil into the pan, add the pork belly slices after heating, and stir-fry to remove excess fat. Then add garlic slices and ginger shreds and stir-fry until fragrant, then add bean paste and stir-fry twice. Then add the dark soy sauce to color, stir-fry evenly, and then add the dried winter melon and stir-fry. Add an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, salt, monosodium glutamate, chicken essence and sugar, stir well, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, turn to low heat and simmer for 15 minutes to let the dried winter melon fully absorb the flavor.
3.Complete the dish: Finally, add red and green chili shreds and stir-fry evenly, stir-fry until the dried winter melon becomes slightly soft, and then remove from the pot. Serve on a plate and garnish with chopped green onions.
In addition to stir-frying, dried winter melon can also be used to make soup, stew sugar water, make desserts, etc. When making soup, adding dried winter melon can increase the umami and texture of the soup. When simmering in sugar water, add dried winter melon to the sugar water and cook it together to add to the taste and flavor of the dessert. When making desserts, dried winter melon can be combined with other ingredients, such as red beans, wolfberries, etc., to make dried winter melon soup, dried winter melon cake, etc. In conclusion, dried winter melon is a very versatile ingredient that can be creatively combined according to personal tastes and preferences.