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Chinese Bitter Melon

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chinese Bitter Melon


The bitter melon of China is 20-30 cm(7.9-11.8 in) long, pale green in color, oblong with bluntly tapering ends and with a gently undulating, warty surface.

Bitter melon known as Kugua in Chinese, is used in Chinese cooking because it has bitter flavor. It is usually stir-fried, used in soups, dim sums and herbal teas.

It was introduced in china in 14th Century.

Nutritional Benefits:

  1. Bitter melon is very low in calories(17 calories per 100 gm).Its pods are rich sources of phytonutrients like dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins.
  2. It contains a phyto-nutrient, polypeptide-P, which is a plant insulin and helps in controlling blood sugar level, responsible for blood sugar levels reduction in the treatment of type-2 diabetes.
  3. Fresh pods contain folates, which is helpful if taken by mothers in early pregnancy period. It reduces the incidence of neural tube defects in the newborn babies.
  4. It is an excellent source of Vitamin-C.
  5. Excellent source of beta-carotene, a-carotene, lutein, and zea-xanthin. It also contains a good amount of vitamin-A. So, bitter melon prevents early aging, cancers and various disease processes.
  6. Provides relief in indigestion and constipation problems.
  7. Source of B-complex vitamins such as niacin (vitamin B-3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium, manganese and magnesium
  8. It might prove effective in treating hiv infection, according to the tests carried out in labs.

Some of the recipes are:

  • Stir-fried Bitter Melon
  • Beef with Bitter Melon
  • Chinese Bitter Melon Stir-Fry with Ground Pork and Black Bean Sauce
  • Chinese Salted Egg Bitter Gourd Recipe
  • Beef Bitter Melon in Black Bean Sauce

Stir-fried Bitter Melon
Ingredients

  • 2 bitter melons, preferable yellow or whiter in color
for the ground pork mixture:
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger, minced
  • 3 ounces ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon rice wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
for the sauce:
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated with a microplane grater
  • 3 tablespoons black beans, smashed
  • 3 dried red chilies, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
for the cornstarch slurry
  • 1/4 cup water mixed with 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 5 tablespoons oil, for stir-frying

Stir-fried Bitter Melon
Stir-fried Bitter Melon

Method

  1. To prepare the bitter melon, halve lengthwise and scoop out all the seeds. Cut the melon into 1/4-inch thick slices and set aside.
  2. Mix the ground pork with the rest of the ingredients in the mixture and set aside in a bowl.
  3. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and set aside. Combine the water and cornstarch in another small bowl and set aside.
  4. Heat the wok over high heat again. Add the rest of the oil and the slices of bitter melon to the wok. Stir-fry over high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until the melon is considerably softened but still a bit crisp. Add the sauce mixture and mix with the melon, stir-frying for an additional minute.
  5. Turn off the heat and add the slurry mixture to the wok. Stir around rapidly to prevent the cornstarch from clumping. Add a few tablespoons more water to the wok if needed to thin out the sauce. Turn the heat on to low and simmer the mixture for 20 seconds. Reintroduce the pork mixture to the dish and stir around to incorporate. Serve immediately.

Beef Bitter Melon in Black Bean Sauce

Beef Bitter Melon in Black Bean Sauce

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chinese Bitter Melon

Stir-fried Bitter Melon

Stir-fried bitter gourd, tofu and pork runcheon meat

Stir-fried bitter melon with egg

Stir-fried bitter melon with egg

Stir Fried Bitter Melon

Stir Fried Bitter Melon

Beef with Bitter Melon

Beef with Bitter Melon

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