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Hi all
        I have what looks like a green and white stripey water melon.
The seeds were brought back from Hong Kong, and the Chinese apparently
make soup with the fruits/veg.
     Can I cook this thing like turnip, or pumpkin?
And how do I cook pumpkin?

Thanks for your help in advance :)

oh it sounds like it might be winter melon scotch-mist!
they sell it whole or in chunks in our local Chinese supermarket, it's very expensive so you're a lucky bunnie :D

should be receeps for if you google, two of ours:

Winter Melon and Ham Soup

This soup is sometimes cooked and served out of a whole winter melon carved in a beautiful pattern, but you need a giant steamer to cook the whole melon!

Ingredients

1 tbs soaked dried shrimps
8 oz winter melon
6 oz ham
1 pint stock
Salt and pepper

Method

Rinse and drain shrimps. Peel off the rind of the winter melon, remove pulp and flesh, and slice the flesh thinly.
Bring stock to a rolling boil. Add shrimps, melon and ham, bring back to the boil and cook for 2-3 minutes only. Adjust seasoning and serve hot.

Stir-Fried Melon with Mushrooms

Ingredients

8-10 dried (shiitake) mushrooms, soaked
1 lb winter melon
3 tbs oil
1-2 spring onions, cut into short sections
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tbs oyster sauce or light soy sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil

Method

Squeeze mushrooms dry (reserve the soak water) and snip off any hard stalks. Leave whole if small, and cut into halves or quarters if big.
Peel off the rind of the winter melon, remove pulp and flesh, and cut the flesh into small, thin wedges.
Heat oil in a preheated wok and stir-fry winter melon for about a minute. Add mushrooms and spring onions and stir-fry-toss for another 2 minutes. Add the salt, sugar and a little of the mushroom soaking water. Braise for another minute or so and add the oyster sauce or soy. Blend well, sprinkle on the sesame oil and toss a couple more times. Serve hot.

Meat eaters can add strips of pork, ham or chicken to this dish.

Well I hope it IS winter melon! ::)

;D ;D ;D
              So do I hope it is wintermelon, cause I'm gonna eat it regardless ;)
 These things came from the mystery seeds I had back
in the spring and couldn't decide which way up to sow them ;D ;D ;D

 I hope any newbies out there don't read this  ::)

this site could end up losing members in the droves ;D ;D ;D
or worse....................Dan could bar me for life :o
;D ;D ;D

Thanks for the recipes supersprout,  I'll let you know how they
turn out ;)

Nought wrong with planting mystery seeds. 8)
Even the experts at Kew seem to think that's the best way to find out what they are!

As regards eating the said fruit; best way to find out is to cut into one, surely?   ;D

do you mean these!!!


you can do a few things with them!
made soup like that


or stem 1/4 of these Malabar gourds
skinned it
made a savory sauce like oyster sauce or mince sauce pour on top !
hope that help! ;D ;D

Was wondering where you were, Yuet! Great photos. Love Oyster Sauce.

Oh Oh Oh !!!!!!!!
       Thats exactly what I have, Yuet_Lee :)
What are they, fruit or veg?
Do you know if the seeds can be kept and sown next year?
and if so how do I store them.

I bet you're sorry you answered the first question ;D ;D ;D

But thanks, I'm glad you did ;)

Tim,I've try to PM to you,but your mail box was full >:( >:(

Scotch,
Some people call them Spaghetti Squash or Malabar gourds,because when you cook them specially to make these type of soup. You can see they like spaghetti or needles you can say. Other name in Chinese we call them Sharkin Marrow

Sure you can save seeds for next year but made sure your squash is ripen enough  other the seeds will too tender. Easy way to tell was yours the skin rock hard  ::)(mature) or easy to peel  (young).
And the seeds are fully black or half black that will be okay for next year .Otherwise are white were too young.

Here there are some more pictures in my blog, but unfortunatley it is in Chinese  ;D
sorry about that!
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/shar05lee&article_id=12317578

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cucurbita+ficifolia?
:)