Ingredients

• 3 cups rich pork stock
• 1 chicken drumstick and thigh
• 1/4 cup diced Smithfield ham
• 3 scallions, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup sliced bamboo shoots (fresh, if possible)
• 1/4 cup peeled and diced water chestnuts (fresh, if possible)
• 1 tablespoon dried shrimp, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes
• 6 Chinese mushrooms, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes
• I cup diced winter melon
• 1/2 cup diced tomato
• 1/2 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cup baby corn
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup diced bean curd (firm-style)
• 1/2 teaspoon Chinese sesame oil

Instructions

1. Bring the pork stock to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan. Reduce to a simmer, add the chicken, and cook gently for 30 minutes. Remove the chicken, bone the meat, shred it, and discard the bones. Add the shredded meat to the pork stock, along with the ham, scallions, garlic, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and dried shrimp. Slice the Chinese mushrooms and add to the stock. Simmer for 1/2 hour. Add the winter melon, the tomato, the peas and the baby corn. Bring soup to a boil. Mix together the cornstarch with enough cold water to make a liquid resembling heavy cream. Pour enough into boiling soup, stirring, to thicken soup slightly. Reduce to simmer, and add the bean curd. Cook gently for 10 minutes. Swirl in sesame oil and serve immediately.;