Melon soup

Melon soup is a soup prepared with melon as a primary ingredient.^[1] Melons such as bitter melon, cantaloupe, crenshaw melon, honeydew (casaba melon) and winter melon may be used,^[1][2][3] among others. Some melon soups are prepared with whole pieces of melon, and others use puréed melon.^[2] Some are served hot, while others are served chilled.^[4] Some cold varieties are prepared without any cooking involved.^[5] Several styles and varieties of melon soups exist, including bitter melon soup, cantaloupe soup and winter melon soup,^[6][7][8] among others. The origin of some melon soup recipes may cross international boundaries.^{[clarification needed]}

Melon soup

A melon soup with skewers of melon balls, mozzarella balls and meat
Type	Soup
Serving temperature	Hot or chilled
Main ingredients	Melon
Variations	Bitter melon soup

A cold melon soup with garnishes

Varieties

Bitter melon soup

Bitter melon soup is prepared using bitter melon as a primary ingredient, and is a part of Chinese cuisine.^[6] In Cantonese, bitter melon is referred to as "the cooling melon," using the term leung gwa.^[6] In the region of China's Pearl River Delta, bitter melon soup is prepared from fresh melons during the summer, and also from dried bitter melon powder during other seasons.^[6] It may be prepared including fish such as bass or carp.^[6]

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  A bitter melon soup
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  Bitter melon soup at a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Cantaloupe soup

Cantaloupe soup is prepared with cantaloupe as a primary ingredient. It may be prepared in puréed form and is typically served chilled.^[7][9] It is sometimes referred to as muskmelon soup. Cantaloupe soup may be served as a first course or starter dish prior to a main course.^[7][9] The use of well-ripened cantaloupe can create an optimal texture and enhance the sweet flavor of the soup.^[9] Additional ingredients can include lime juice, lemon juice, apple juice, orange juice, salt, pepper, herbs such as mint or basil, cayenne pepper and balsamic vinegar.^[7][9][10] Spicy versions may be prepared using chili peppers.^[11] A cantaloupe soup recipe using one large cantaloupe melon, one-half cup orange juice and one-quarter cup of honey has 147 calories per one-cup serving.^[10]

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  A cantaloupe soup

Watermelon soup

Watermelon soup is prepared with watermelon as a primary ingredient, and may be served chilled.^[12] The seeds of the watermelon may be removed, or seedless watermelon may be used, and additional ingredients can include additional fruits, ginger, chili pepper and sugar.^[12][13][14]

• 
  Watermelon soup at a restaurant

Winter melon soup

Winter melon soup is prepared with winter melon as a primary ingredient^[8][15] and is a part of Chinese cuisine^[16] and the cuisine of Hong Kong.^[17][18] It is served often at Chinese banquets.^[19] Winter melon soup may have a slightly sweet flavor.^[15] Some recipes may use several ingredients in addition to winter melon,^[8] which may include ham, carrot, mushrooms^[16] and chicken.^[20] Winter melon soup may be served hot, yet has been described as having a cooling effect upon the body when consumed.^[18]

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  Close-up view of a winter melon and seafood soup
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  A winter melon soup
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  A winter melon soup served from a bowl carved from a melon
• 
  Another winter melon soup served from a carved melon bowl

See also

• Fruit soup
• Pumpkin soup
• List of melon dishes
• List of soups