Winter Melon Soup （冬瓜汤）

Most Chinese slow cook soup (煲汤) are cook very similarly, with similar side ingredients, only replacing the main ingredient. Here is another one. 

Ingredients

1. 1 4-5cm thick slice of big Chinese winter melon , or ¼ to ½ of a local winter melon or “shark fin” melon (called shark fin as the flesh is made up of thin strands)
2. 5 dried red dates
3. 200 grams pork ribs
4. 2 dried scallop (干贝)
5. 4 dried oyster （蚝豉, 蚝干）
6. 1 tablespoon wolf berry (枸杞子) optional
7. 2 liters water (some will dry up during cooking)
8. Salt

Method

1. Wash the melon, and cut away the skin.  Using a spoon, scrape away the seeds, and cut into chucks.
2. Wash all other ingredients.
3. Put all ingredients, and water in a soup or stock pot, and put to boil.  Turn down flame to very small and allow to slow boil for 3-4 hours.
4. Add salt to taste, and serve hot.

You can also cook this in slow cooker for 4 hours.