Winter Melon Four Delicacies

Winter Melon Four Delicacies

　　Winter Melon Four Delicacies; Ingredients: one tender winter melon (about 2000g), 50g soft-shell turtle meat, 25g cooked ham, 50g cooked chicken breast, 75g winter melon balls, 15g soaked dried mushrooms, 25g vegetable hearts, 25g cooked sponge cake, 50g deboned fish meat, 25g scallions, 20g ginger, 6g salt, 30g Shaoxing wine, 200g chicken broth, 1250g lard (actual usage about 100g). (Appearance & flavor: The winter melon is emerald green, with four rich flavors infused inside to enhance its appeal. The broth is delicious and rich, highly nutritious — truly a fine example of regional cuisine.)

Preparation: 1) Slice the fish meat into long willow-leaf shapes, marinate with seasonings, then coat in starch and quickly fry; chop the soft-shell turtle into rectangular pieces, blanch and rinse clean;

2) Slice the ham and chicken breast separately;

3) Arrange the chicken slices, ham slices, fish slices, and soft-shell turtle pieces at the four corners of a heatproof bowl, top with winter melon balls, mushrooms, scallions, ginger, salt, Shaoxing wine, and chicken broth. Steam until thoroughly tender, then remove and discard the scallions and ginger;

4) Peel the winter melon, carve decorative patterns on the surface, cut off and hollow out one end, wash the inside clean. Parboil in oil heated to about 110°C (medium-low heat) until just cooked, then remove and place in a soup bowl. Pour in chicken broth, add salt, Shaoxing wine, scallions, and ginger, cover with the lid, and steam until fully cooked. Remove and drain the broth. Place the winter melon lid-side up in another soup dish, transfer the “Four Delicacies” from the bowl into the hollowed winter melon, add more broth, salt, and Shaoxing wine. Arrange winter melon balls, sponge cake slices, and vegetable hearts on top, then steam for 5 minutes. Remove and serve.