Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon

節瓜

strengthens the spleenwhets the appetitepromotes water metabolism消腫性平不寒，體虛者及小兒皆宜（冬瓜的溫和版）

The hairy gourd or chieh-qua, a small fuzzy-skinned Cantonese variety of winter melon, sold fresh and whole. Scraped (or left unpeeled) and chunked, it cooks to a tender, mild sweetness; being neutral rather than cooling, it is the family-friendly stand-in for winter melon.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet、bland　Meridians · spleen、stomach

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy hairy gourd strengthens the spleen, opens the appetite and promotes water metabolism, and its neutral nature makes it suitable even for the frail and for children.

Cautions — read first

Almost nothing to avoid, though too much will still make you pass water

Preparation

Scrape the skin or leave it on, then cut into pieces.

Origin

廣東特色瓜種（黑毛節瓜著名）

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Dried scallop (conpoy)Lean pork Dried octopus Black-eyed pea Dried mussel

Soups that use this ingredient · 4

Hairy gourd, glass noodle and dried shrimp soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

節瓜粉絲蝦米湯

clears heatrelieves drynessSummer

街市Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon· 1 to 2百子櫃Dried small shrimp· 2 tablespoons百子櫃Mung bean vermicelli· 50 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Hairy gourd and salted duck egg soup with sliced porkNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

節瓜鹹蛋肉片湯

nourishes yincools internal fireclears heatSummer

街市Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon· 1 to 2街市Salted duck egg· 1街市Lean pork· 150 g街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”

Hairy gourd, baby mussel and dried scallop soup with porkNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

節瓜淡菜元貝肉片湯（節瓜淡菜仔元貝滾湯）

replenishes qiAll year

街市Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon· 2百子櫃Dried mussel· 75 g百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 75 g街市Lean pork· 300 g

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”

Hairy gourd, black-eyed pea and peanut soup with chicken feetNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

節瓜眉豆花生雞腳湯

strengthens the spleendispels dampnesspromotes water metabolismSummerAll year

街市Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon· 2百子櫃Black-eyed pea· 75 g百子櫃Peanut· 75 g街市Chicken feet· 8街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 300 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2… +1

“The pot for damp weather.”