Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 1: Wash the winter melon and cut it into sections you can handle, peel it, and scoop out the soft pith. Cut those into strips about 4–5cm long and 2–3cm wide, then slice across into bite-sized pieces 4–5mm thick. Keep the thickness close to even, but let the natural variation of hand-cutting stand — avoid large fan-shaped slices or thick roll-cut chunks.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 2: Peel the garlic and crack the cloves with the flat of the knife. Cut the spring onion into natural fine rings. Pick over the dried shrimp for grit; if there is obvious salt bloom or dust on the surface, rinse them quickly under water and drain thoroughly — do not leave them soaking.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 3: Heat the wok over medium, add enough oil, and swirl the pan to coat it in a thin film. Before the oil smokes, add the cracked garlic and turn it over the heat so the cut faces meet the pan, frying until the garlic smells fragrant and those faces are lightly golden.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 4: Keeping the heat at medium, add the drained shrimp, spread them out quickly with the spatula and stir-fry them with the garlic for 45–60 seconds. Move on as soon as the aroma comes up — do not let the shrimp scorch.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 5: Add all the winter melon, turn the heat to medium-high and stir-fry for 45–60 seconds so the slices take on the garlic oil and mix evenly with the shrimp. The melon only needs to soften at the edges; the pan should not be running with liquid.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 6: Pour 80–100ml of freshly boiled water around the rim of the wok — just enough to form a thin layer of braising liquid on the bottom. Boiling water hitting the hot pan should return to a gentle simmer quickly; toss briskly with the spatula so a little of the liquid works its way under the melon.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 7: Once it is simmering gently again, turn the heat to medium-low, put on a well-fitting lid and braise for 3–4 minutes. You can rock the wok gently by the lid partway through so the melon heats more evenly. Do not keep the heat too high, or the liquid boils away too fast and the shrimp turn tough.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 8: Take off the lid, turn the heat to medium-high, and pour about 10ml of seasoned or light soy sauce around the rim, then scatter about 1g of salt evenly over the top. Toss immediately for about a minute so the seasoning coats the melon and the excess moisture cooks off; taste before deciding whether it needs a little more salt.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 9: Add the rings from the whole spring onion and toss quickly for 20–30 seconds. Turn off the heat the moment they have just softened while still bright green.

Stir-fried Winter Melon with Dried Shrimp | Step 10: Serve.