Melon Stuffed with Sweet Fillings

Melon Stuffed with Sweet Fillings

　　Melon Stuffed with Sweet Fillings is a renowned summer delicacy that stands out among Lanzhou’s famous dishes. It evolved from the "Watermelon Lantern" and "Watermelon Cup" of the 1950s. This dish is celebrated for enclosing a treasure of eight ingredients inside the melon, boasting sweet and flavorful juice, as well as a vibrant, jade-like beauty. The preparation method involves: first steaming two taels of glutinous rice over low heat; blanching two taels of pork fat cubes in boiling water; in a basin, mixing two taels of candied fruits, two taels of melon preserves, one tael of raisins, 2.5 taels of sugar, and four taels of rose petals to form the stuffing. The honeydew melon is washed, peeled, and both ends are trimmed flat. It is then cut one-quarter from the stem end, the seeds are removed, and the filling is placed inside. The melon cap is put back on, and it is steamed in a concave dish for half an hour. When serving, some melon juice, water, sugar, and rose syrup are added to a pan, heated, and then poured over the melon. The result is a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a unique flavor that is both delightful and full of charm.