Pork and Winter Melon Soup

• 200 g (7 oz) minced (ground) pork
• 4 spring onions (scallions

Put the pork, the white part of the spring onions, half the fish sauce, sugar and ½ teaspoon of the salt in a mortar and pound to a smooth paste. (This can also be done in a food processor.) Put in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes. Peel the winter melon and slice into 5 x 1 cm (2 x ½ in) batons.

Remove the pork paste from the fridge. Take 1 teaspoon of pork paste in one hand and a