Tip, Trick & a Recipe: Sweet on bitter melon

Whether you refer to it as balsam pear, bitter gourd, or by its most common name of bitter melon, today we’re talking about a member of the plant family that includes melons, squashes, and cucumbers.

Native to Africa and Asia, bitter melon has been used for medicinal purposes for its ability to cleanse the system (it acts as a natural laxative) and in cooking to lend its bitter taste to savory dishes.

Bitter melon is a strange-looking green fruit, but it is very good for you!

Nutrients. Bitter melon is an excellent source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and B6. Bitter melon also contains twice as much folate as its cousin, the cantaloupe. A serving of this fruit also provides you with 100% of your daily required dose of Vitamin K.

Anti-inflammatory. Bitter melon has amazing anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting power.

Blood sugar. Bitter melon can reduce blood sugar levels, and it has been shown to have the power to treat some mild cases of diabetes in some studies!

Now, before you run out to shop for bitter melon, I won’t lie to you. Bitter melon has a taste that takes some getting used to!

Because of its bitter flavor, I would suggest stir-frying bitter melon with some savory, sweet and spicy components to the dish. Bitter melon can be enjoyed steamed, stir-fried, or diced into a salad.

And now, it’s time for your Trick:

To cut the bitterness of the bitter melon, soak it in saltwater or blanch it before cooking!

Your Tip:

When shopping for bitter melon, choose fruits that have more yellow or white exteriors. The greener the fruit, the more immature and bitter it will be.

And your Recipe:

Chicken and Pepper Stir Fry with Bitter Melon

4.17 from 6 votes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Paleo
Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium if available)
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic pressed
  • 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into chunks
  • 1/2 cup bitter melon (parboiled - directions below)
  • 6 green onions cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 1 large green bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 6 cups hot cooked rice I use brown

Instructions
 

  • Mix soy sauce, ketchup, ginger, and garlic in a re-sealable heavy-duty plastic bag.
  • Add chicken; seal bag and turn to coat with marinade.
  • Let stand 15 minutes.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in 10-inch skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  • Add bitter melon, green onions, and bell peppers; stir-fry until crisp-tender.
  • Remove from skillet. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet.
  • Add chicken; stir-fry 4 to 5 minutes or until no longer pink in center.
  • Stir in bell pepper mixture.
  • Serve over rice.

Notes

Parboiling bitter melon: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut the ends off the bitter melon and cut in half lengthwise (do not peel). Remove the seeds and white pith from the middle of the melon with a small spoon. Cut the melon diagonally into thin, 1/4-inch slices. Place the sliced bitter melon in the boiling water and parboil until it is just tender (2 - 3 minutes). Drain.
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3 Responses

  1. An Asian friend of mine made a dish with bitter melon for me because of its reported benefits for diabetes. I could NOT stomach it! Maybe it would be tolerable in stir fry.

  2. I agree with Brenda. It takes some really getting used to and frankly I can’t stand the taste of bitter melon in any form.

  3. 5 stars
    I really like bitter melon. It’s definitely an acquired taste. I’ve made it in Indian cooking, I took the advice of a Vietnamese friend and cooked some bitter melon with some scrambled eggs which I thought was excellent. Lately, I’ve been cooking bitter melon in coconut oil sometimes adding hot chilis. Today I two tablespoons of sugar to the cooked veg. Pre preparation is absolutely key.
    Wash, cut in half, scrape out the seeds and pith. Cut in quarter inch crossway slices, put in a bowl. Sprinkle a fairly healthy amount of salt, tossing the vegetable. Find something else to do for a few minutes, then come back and rinse the vegetable. Drain off as much water as possible, continue with your recipe. Alternatively, you can make a saltwater soap and drop the vegetable in there for about 10 minutes.

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