In addition to being delicious, the stir-fried vegetable cores with dried chilies and oyster sauce also have rich nutritional value. The nutrients in the vegetable cores are retained to the maximum extent, and the addition of oyster sauce increases the nutritional value of the dish and makes it more easily absorbed by the body. Moreover, this dish also has certain medicinal value, as it can enhance the immune system and promote gastrointestinal motility.
Ingredients for Oyster Sauce Winter Melon
| Winter melon | 350g |
| Garlic | 6g |
| Ginger | 5g |
| Green onion | 4g |
| Red pepper | 12g |
| Scallion | 4g |
| Oyster sauce | 5g |
| Salt | 2g |
| Chicken powder | 1g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Light soy sauce | 3g |
| Dark soy sauce | 2g |
| Starch | 2g |
Steps:
1.First, let’s prepare the ingredients. Take a small piece of winter melon, remove the outer skin, discard the seeds, and cut the winter melon into small pieces. Place them in a bowl and soak in clean water. Slice a few cloves of garlic into garlic slices, cut a small piece of ginger into ginger shreds, and cut a small section of the white part of a spring onion into spring onion flowers. Half a red chili pepper, first cut into chili pepper shreds, then dice it. Take a few stalks of scallion leaves and chop them into scallion flowers.
2.With all the ingredients ready, let’s start cooking. Heat oil in a pan, and after the oil is hot, add the spring onion, ginger, garlic, and red pepper. Stir-fry them over medium heat until fragrant. Add a bit of oyster sauce and quickly stir to mix it well. Oyster sauce adds a rich flavor. Then add the winter melon pieces and use a spoon to stir and flip them. Pour a spoonful of water from the edge of the pan, add 2 grams of salt, a quarter teaspoon of chicken powder, and 1 gram of sugar. Drizzle a bit of light soy sauce for extra flavor, and a few drops of dark soy sauce for color. Cook for about three minutes. As the winter melon cooks, the sauce will reduce. Thicken the sauce by adding a bit of water starch until it becomes sticky. The starch helps the flavors to cling to the winter melon and make it more flavorful.
3.Transfer the stir-fried winter melon with oyster sauce to a clean plate and sprinkle some chopped scallion on top. The scallions should be fresh, cut into small pieces, to add a fresh aroma to the dish.
Tips
1.When selecting winter melon, choose ones with smooth skin and no scratches or discoloration. When cut open, the flesh should be white and firm.
2.Oyster sauce has a rich flavor. Using an appropriate amount of oyster sauce can enhance the taste of the winter melon, but avoid using too much to avoid overpowering the original flavor of the melon.
3.When stir-frying, maintain medium or low heat to prevent the winter melon from becoming too soft or mushy, which can affect the texture.
This delicious oyster sauce winter melon dish not only pleases the taste buds but also evokes the feeling of home. As you sit at the dining table, savoring this dish, it may bring back memories of your mother’s cooking in a warm and vibrant kitchen. Oyster sauce winter melon reminds us of the warmth of family and the strong bonds of love.