Recipe - Deep-Fried Simmered Winter Melon

5 Dried black mushrooms
1 pound Wedge of winter melon
2 tablespoon Smoked ham
Oil for deepfrying
One half cup Stock
2 tablespoon Oyster sauce
2 teaspoon Cornstarch
2 teaspoon Water
One half teaspoon Salt
One half teaspoon Sugar
1 ds Pepper

1. Soak dried mushrooms.

2. Peel and seed winter melon wedge; then cut crosswise in half. Cut soaked
mushrooms in half. Shred ham.

3. Heat oil and separately deepfry each winter melon section until golden.
Drain on paper toweling: Let cool; then cut in 3/4inch sections.

4. Bring stock to a boil. Add winter melon and soaked mushrooms; simmer,
covered, 10 minutes. Then stir in oyster sauce to blend.

5. Transfer melon and mushrooms to a serving platter, leaving liquids in
pan. Blend cornstarch, cold water, salt, sugar and pepper to a paste; then
stir in to thicken liquids. Pour sauce over melon and mushrooms. Garnish
with shredded ham and serve.

From The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook, ISBN 0517658704. Downloaded
from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.