Chicken And Fuzzy Melon Soup Food

WINTER MELON SOUP

Steps:

• Make broth:
• Rinse chicken inside and out, then stuff cavity with scallions, ham, and ginger. Bring water with chicken and salt to a boil in a deep 7- to 8-quart stockpot or pasta pot, then reduce heat and cook at a bare simmer, uncovered, skimming off froth occasionally, 3 hours. 3Remove and discard chicken, then pour broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Skim off fat. (You will have about 10 to 12 cups broth and need only 9 cups for this soup; reserve remainder for the Black-Bean Shrimp with Chinese Broccoli or for another use.)
• Make soup:
• Bring 2 cups broth to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then add dried scallops and remove from heat. Soak, covered, 15 minutes.
• Return scallop mixture to low heat and simmer, uncovered, until scallops are soft and pale, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool in cooking liquid. Transfer scallops with a slotted spoon to a bowl, reserving cooking liquid. Shred scallops into "threads" with a fork or your fingers, discarding tough ligament from side of each scallop if attached. Bring remaining 7 cups broth to a simmer in cleaned 7- to 8-quart pot with scallops and reserved cooking liquid.
• Cut off and discard rind from winter melon. Remove and discard seeds, then cut melon into 1/3-inch cubes (about 5 cups). Add to broth and gently simmer, uncovered, until melon is transparent, 20 to 30 minutes. 3Stir in ham, ginger, scallions, and salt to taste just before serving.

HAIRY MELON SOUP (JIT GUAH JUNG) (20 MOTT STREET RESTAURANT)

Steps:

• Cut melons in half and remove seeds. Use 3 1/2-inch ends only and discard centers. Scoop out melons, leaving the inner flesh intact. Wash, wrap in wash cloths and insert firmly into tempered glasses. Reserve.
• Chop all ingredients into 1/4-inch pieces. (Save several small pieces of crabmeat to garnish the edges of the melon.) Mix together and divide into 6 equal portions. Place a portion inside each melon cavity. Add chicken broth to within 1/2 inch of top of melon.
• Place melon halves in a steamer. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a wok and place steamer over water. Cover and steam for 1 1/2 hours over medium heat. Keep boiling water ready to replace water lost to evaporation.
• When softened remove from steamer, garnish edges with crabmeat and serve immediately.