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A light, refreshing Vietnamese soup featuring tender winter melon, savory ground pork, and umami-rich dried shrimp. This comforting classic is a staple in family meals, perfect for balancing richer dishes and cleansing the palate.
Prepare Ingredients
Build the Flavor Base
Simmer the Soup
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A light, refreshing Vietnamese soup featuring tender winter melon, savory ground pork, and umami-rich dried shrimp. This comforting classic is a staple in family meals, perfect for balancing richer dishes and cleansing the palate.
This vietnamese recipe takes 35 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 222.52 calories per serving with 12.69g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for lunch or dinner or supper.
Final Seasoning and Serving
Instead of ground pork, use bone-in pork ribs (simmer for 45-60 minutes before adding melon) or whole, peeled shrimp (add in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking).
Omit the pork and dried shrimp. Use vegetable broth and add soft tofu cubes and a few rehydrated shiitake mushrooms for a savory, plant-based alternative.
For a deeper umami flavor, use a quality chicken or pork broth instead of water as the soup base.
Winter melon is composed of over 95% water, making this soup incredibly hydrating. In traditional Asian medicine, it's considered a 'cooling' food, believed to help reduce body heat.
This soup is light and satisfying without being heavy on calories, making it an excellent choice for weight management or as part of a balanced meal.
The ground pork provides high-quality protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting muscle health, and keeping you full.
The high water and fiber content in winter melon can promote healthy digestion and help prevent constipation. The soup is gentle on the stomach.
Yes, Canh Bi Dao is considered very healthy. It is low in calories and fat, hydrating due to the high water content of winter melon, and provides a good source of lean protein from the pork. It's a light and balancing dish in Vietnamese cuisine.
A typical serving of Canh Bi Dao (about 1.75 cups) contains approximately 180-220 calories, making it a light and healthy soup option.
Winter melon (Bí Đao) is a large gourd with a very mild, slightly sweet, and refreshing taste. Its flavor is subtle, similar to a cucumber, and it excels at absorbing the savory flavors of the broth it's cooked in.
This soup is best served fresh as the winter melon can become mushy when reheated. However, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop without boiling.
To ensure a clear broth, make sure to skim off any foam and impurities that rise to the surface while the soup is simmering. Also, adding the winter melon to already boiling water helps prevent the release of starches that can cloud the soup.
You can typically find winter melon (often sold in pre-cut wedges) and dried shrimp in the refrigerated or dried goods sections of most Asian grocery stores.
