November 26, 2022
What is winter melon? It is one of our favorite fruits and a must have in the kitchen.
Winter melon, or ash gourd as it's better known, is a mild-tasting vegetable most often used in Chinese cuisine. It's a popular ingredient in Chinese herbal soups. It grows in warm climates, such as Asia and South Florida. Once picked, the melons are easy to transport, and they store well. They are sold primarily in Asian markets where there is a higher demand.
Medicinally, winter melons are a fabulous source of vitamin C and good for blood vessels in the heart. In our book, we use this fruit for spring and summer recipes but you can also eat them in the winter. They are like a cross between cucumbers and squash.
Although winter melon is believed to be quite plain, we love to cook with it because it can absorb the flavors much better than other common vegetables. In addition, winter melon is such a great choice to balance the oily texture of a soup.
We most recently spoke about their benefits at the Energetic Nutrition Summit held in November. If you missed it, the lecture will rerun at www.qifoodtherapy.com from December 9-11 so sign up before then!