I've been seeing a lot of bitter melon at the Farmer's Markets and in Asian groceries recently. I've always seen this fruit around, but I never knew what to do with it, so I decided to do some research.
Seasonal Spotlight: Bitter Melon
Bitter melon are subtropical fruits that grow on vines, and they are commonly found in South and Southeast Asian cuisine. It also grows in Africa and the Caribbean.
Bitter melon is watery and crunchy like a cucumber, and can be eaten raw, but is more commonly used in stews, curries, and stir fries. As its name indicates, it has a bitter taste, but this is countered by salting the cut parts of the melon and cooking it with sauces and spices. It is also deep fried and served as a street snack.
You can experiment with bitter melon by trying some of these recipes:
Bitter Melon with Egg and Tofu
Chicken and Bitter Melon Soup
Pinkabet
(Image: Kathryn Hill)
Comments (11)
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Mmm, pinkabet over rice--I grew up on that. It really does go well with a nice, sweetish meat like pork or lamb to cut the bitter.
view OneWallKitchen's profile
My dad used to make a soup where he'd stuff them with a mixture of ground pork, clear glass noodles and wood ear mushrooms. Reminds me of childhood.
view foodiegirl's profile
My dad used to stuff it with pork and make soup, similar to this recipe. Unfortunately, I have tried and tried to like bitter melon, but it's just too strong for me.
view Emily Ho's profile
My mom used to saute bittermelon with ground pork over rice. Even over the years, I still can't get myself to eat it.
view Darlene's profile
I haven't had pinakbet since I was a little kid and never acquired the taste of the bitter melon in it. I'd alway remove them from the dish. Maybe now that I'm older I'll like it? I'll have to make it one of these days to see!
view logarhythm's profile
I grew up eating this in a dish my mother made, a stir fry with beef and black beans. It's terrific, actually.
view KidMoe's profile
ooh, this is one of my fav vegetables... cooked with tons of sweet onions, spices in a dried curry!so very good with roti!
view daiz's profile
just had it the other day....so tasty!!! stuffed with ground pork and steamed over rice....
view wwoolsey's profile
I love love bitter melon...in the Vietnamese stuffed way or sliced in soups.
view bipolarbear's profile
oh. my mom tried to get my sisters and I to eat this w/ her when we were kids. think we gave it a shot once and never again. she's given up cooking it now since no one would even get near it. it's not one for the masses. the bitterness is wretched on my palette.
view lunatig's profile
my mom used to sauté bitter melon with tomatoes and add (scrambled) eggs. never liked it, but was forced to eat it by my dad when i was younger. so i'd take a few slices, cut them smaller, then bury one of the pieces in a spoonful of rice. once i feel the bitter melon piece (while chewing slowly and carefully), i'd swallow it whole so i wouldn't have to taste it so much. blech. still don't like it. strangely enough i don't have a problem eating bitter melon leaves, which, if i remember right, were bitter too.
stuffed ampalaya (bitter melon) this says to choose bitter melon with less wrinkled skin so it'll be less bitter
bitter melon 'salad'
view rmx's profile