Typical Vietnamese home-cooked meals usually include a side of soup to go alongside your protein and steamed white rice. One of the quickest soups that I make is Winter Melon Soup with Shrimp or Canh Bi Dao Tom. Winter melon soup has a mild sweet taste and because shrimp is used, it cooks up in minutes. If winter melon is not available in your local grocery store, you can substitute winter melon with cucumbers or chayotes.
Print
Winter Melon Soup with Shrimp (Canh Bi Dao Tom)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
One of the quickest soups to accompany steamed rice in a traditional Vietnamese family meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Shrimp Marinade
- 5 large peeled shrimps
- 1 small shallot
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
Soup
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 small shallot (slice thinly)
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon MSG (optional)
- 1 small winter melon (peel, de-seed and cut into bite size pieces)
- 2 green onions (cut into 1-inch segments)
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Shrimp Marinade: Mince up the shrimp with the shallot on a cutting board. Add the shrimp to a bowl and marinate with salt, black pepper, fish sauce. Set aside.
- Prep the Ingredients: Slice the second shallot thinly. Peel, deseed, and cut the winter melon into bite-sized pieces. Slice the green onions into 1-inch segments.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat up a small pot with vegetable oil. Add the sliced shallot and fry until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Cook the Shrimp: Add the marinated shrimp along with the liquids. Sauté until shrimp starts to turn pink.
- Make the Soup Base: Add water and bring it to a boil. Add salt, sugar, chicken/pork/mushroom seasoning, and MSG.
- Cook the Winter Melon: Add winter melon. Once the pot turns to a boil, turn off the heat. Let the winter melon cook on the residual heat for about five minutes or until fork tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, top with green onions and a pinch of black pepper.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
