wax gourd; winter melon
A large, mild-flavored gourd commonly used in Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Often simmered in dashi or used in soups.
When simmered, winter melon becomes meltingly tender.
Winter melon harvested in summer can be stored until winter.
Standard kanji spelling. The reading とうが is also used but less common.
Kana spelling, useful for learners or when the kanji is not needed.
The kanji 冬瓜 literally means 'winter melon,' referring to its ability to be stored into winter despite being harvested in summer. The reading とうがん is the standard Japanese rendering of the Chinese-derived term.