Summer Selection of Melon and Vegetables
Published Time:
2016-06-14
There are many varieties of melons and gourds, which are major summer vegetables. Currently available varieties include winter melon, pumpkin, sponge gourd, bitter melon, zucchini, Buddha's hand melon, golden thread melon, and bottle gourd (night-blooming cereus). Melons and gourds are rich in nutrients, containing essential amino acids, vitamins C, B1, and B2, carotene, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. They also have certain medicinal values.
Gourds come in many varieties and are a major summer vegetable. Currently available are winter melon, pumpkin, sponge gourd, bitter melon, zucchini, Buddha's hand gourd, golden silk gourd, and bottle gourd (night-blooming cereus). Gourds are nutritious, containing essential amino acids, vitamins C, B1, and B2, carotene, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. They also have certain medicinal value.
Winter Melon Currently, the Shanghai market is dominated by black-skinned winter melon. When selecting, use your fingernail to pinch it; a hard skin and dense flesh with mature, yellowish-brown seeds indicate good quality; if the seeds are white and tender, the flesh is loose and will become watery after cooking, indicating poor quality.
Pumpkin Similarly, when selecting pumpkins, whether Japanese mini-pumpkins or local small-gate pumpkins, use your fingernail to pinch the skin; if no mark is left, it indicates ripeness. A slightly frosty surface indicates a sweet and soft pumpkin.
Golden Silk Gourd It gets its name from the fact that after ripening, it can be easily shredded. Tender gourds are not easy to shred. When selecting, use your fingernail to pinch the skin; a firm texture and golden color, and medium size are signs of high quality. To eat, cut it in half, remove the pulp and seeds, blanch in boiling water for 8-10 minutes, quickly place in cold water to cool, and use chopsticks to shred it naturally. Then add sesame oil, scallions, garlic, and vinegar to make a cold dish. For those who like spicy food, add chili oil to make a delicious dish to go with porridge.
Generally speaking, winter melon, pumpkin, and golden silk gourd should be selected when ripe.
Cucumber There are many varieties of cucumbers, roughly divided into North China types: many thorns, long and slender, dark green skin; and South China types: few or no thorns, short and cylindrical, light green skin. South China types include the local Yangxing cucumber and thornless Dutch cucumber in Shanghai, which are crisp and suitable for cold dishes. Regardless of the variety, the freshest ones have flowers at the stem end. Gently pinch the stem; a firm feel and uniform shape without a bulging belly indicate freshness.
Sponge Gourd Many varieties of sponge gourd are currently on the market, including the local Nanxiang fragrant sponge gourd, which has short and thin, green skin with indistinct stripes; those from other places have longer, ridged gourds with a white frost. When selecting, pinch the stem; a firm stem, green skin without black scratches, and a firm overall feel indicate freshness. Unfresh sponge gourds are soft and the skin easily develops black stripes.
Zucchini Shanghainese are relatively unfamiliar with zucchini; it is a relative of pumpkin, belonging to the American pumpkin family. Unlike pumpkins, it tastes best when young, with light green skin and slightly yellow stripes, and a slightly sticky feel indicating tenderness. When eating, no need to peel; slice and stir-fry alone or with meat for a fragrant and delicious dish.
Buddha's Hand Gourd It is named for its resemblance to a Buddha's hand. When selecting, if the skin has a few hardened thorns and seeds are protruding from the Buddha's hand part, it indicates ripeness. When eating, peel it. Select those with smooth surfaces and soft hairs for tender gourds, which can be sliced and stir-fried with or without the skin.
Bottle Gourd Also known as night-blooming cereus, there are two types: one with green skin, strong flavor, and high quality; the other with light green skin, light flavor, and lower quality. When purchasing, select those with uniform shape, white skin, intact hairs, and a soft feel for freshness.
Unlike the gourds mentioned above, cucumbers, sponge gourds, zucchini, Buddha's hand gourds, and bottle gourds are best selected when young and tender.
Summer gourds are less susceptible to pesticide contamination, are nutritious, have diverse cooking methods, and are a delicious treat!
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