Chinese Melon Soup (Dong Gwah Jong) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups watermelon balls or 1 small watermelon
6 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup canned bamboo shoot (2.3 oz)
1 1/2 cups mushrooms, sliced
2 1/2 ounces smoked ham, diced (1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups cooked turkey or 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, diced
3 slices gingerroot (about the size of a dime)
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup toasted almond, shredded

Preparation

For fancy presentation - remove top of melon.
Scoop out melon and seeds, reserving 3 cups melon balls.
Scallop edge of melon.
In a large pan, heat stock, bamboo, mushrooms, ham, chicken, ginger, sugar, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low, half cover the pan, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Just before serving add reserved melon balls and pour soup into the melon shell.
Sprinkle with almonds and serve immediately.