Winter Melon Clam Soup (冬瓜蛤蜊湯)

Jump to Recipe

There’s something incredibly comforting about a bowl of hot soup made with simple, wholesome ingredients. This Winter Melon Clam Soup or 冬瓜蛤蜊湯 is the perfect example! It’s light and full of natural sweetness from fresh clams and winter melon.

If you ask me to describe winter melons’ flavor profile, I’d use the word mild. They do become tender and almost silky upon cooking, releasing a natural sweetness. Clams add a briny depth to the broth, while dried shrimp brings an extra layer of umami from seafood. Fresh ginger helps brighten everything up, and a small splash of rice wine, fish sauce (or salt), white pepper powder and sesame oil bring the flavors together.

Best of all, this soup is surprisingly easy to make. Once your ingredients are prepared, everything comes together in one pot and complete within 15 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

• Simple ingredients: You only need a handful of ingredients to make a flavorful broth.
• Light but satisfying: Winter melon makes the soup hearty without making it heavy.
• Naturally flavorful: Fresh clams and dried shrimp provide plenty of savory, seafood flavor.
• Quick to prepare: The clams cook in just a few minutes.
• Perfect for sharing: Serve it family-style

Ingredients

• 25 g dried shrimp, soaked in warm water for 20 min
• 2 lbs winter melon, peeled and cut into large pieces
• 2 lbs fresh clams, cleaned
• 7 cups water
• 1 large thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or salt, to taste)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• A dash of white pepper powder
• 1 tablespoon rice wine

How to Make Winter Melon Soup with Clams

1. Start the broth

Add the water, winter melon, soaked dried shrimp, and ginger to a large pot.

Bring everything to a boil, then allow the winter melon to cook until it begins to soften or until it reaches your preferred doneness.

2. Add the clams

Add the cleaned clams to the pot and continue boiling for about 3 minutes, or until the clams open.

3. Season the soup

Add the fish sauce or salt, rice wine, white pepper powder, and sesame oil.

Taste the broth and add salt as needed. Gently mix everything together so the seasonings are evenly distributed.

4. Serve

Once the soup is seasoned, turn off the heat and serve immediately.

Ladle the hot soup into bowls, making sure everyone gets plenty of tender winter melon and clams and garnish with optional chopped scallions.

Tips for Making the Best Winter Melon and Clam Soup

Clean the clams extremely well. Soak the clams in salted water to purge any sand. Discard any clam that remains open or doesn’t close when tapped.

Don’t overcook the clams. Clams cook quickly. Your three-minute cooking time keeps them tender while allowing them to release their delicious flavor into the broth.

Adjust the salt at the end. Clams and fish sauce both contribute saltiness, so it’s best to taste the broth before adding additional salt.