This is a very simple stir-fry that I really love making for my family. All you do is stir-fry bitter melon with garlic, then make a sauce with chicken bouillon powder. The key is to salt the bitter melon beforehand which will get rid of a lot of the bitterness.
Growing up, I remember my mom used to cook a lot of bitter melon for us. She used to make this dish with stir-fried pork and it was really tasty. I know many people do not like bitter melon, but I've always enjoyed its taste. Maybe it's because I grew up eating it. Or maybe it's because I'm a freak. Idk lol.
Anyway, as I've gotten older, I've actually learned to appreciate it even more. Now I go out of the way to buy it and this is my go-to recipe when I make it. The recipe I'm making today is using my mom's homegrown bitter melon!
Why you should salt bitter melon
Salting the bitter melon will get rid of a lot of the bitterness. The actual reason is because the salt reduces our perception of the bitterness. To salt the bitter melon, I recommend slicing the bitter melon into thin slices (about ¼-inch thick) and soaking in salted water for at least 20 minutes.
How long does it take to cook bitter melon?
In my experience, bitter melon takes a few minutes longer than most vegetables to cook. I recommend stir-frying for about 2-3 minutes to get a stir-fried flavor, then add some water and let it steam for a few minutes until it's soft. Because it takes longer, I usually use medium heat for the stir-fry.
Note on the garlic
Because the stir-fry takes longer to cook, I usually chop the garlic into slightly larger pieces. This way they do not burn as easily and their flavor will be a bit more pungent still.
Easy Bitter Melon Stir-fry
Ingredients
- 1 medium-large bitter melon
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 pinch MSG (optional)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic (about 3 cloves)
Instructions
- Slice the bitter melon in half lengthwise, then cut into ¼-inch thick slices.
- Add the salt to a medium bowl of warm water (about 2 ½ cups) and stir to dissolve the salt. Soak the bitter melon for at least 20 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain (I usually spin the bittermelon in a salad spinner)
- To a small bowl, combine the water, chicken bouillon powder, cornstarch, water, sugar, and MSG.
- Heat a wok over medium heat until it's hot. Add the oil and garlic. Cook for 30 seconds until the garlic smells fragrant. Don't let the garlic change color.
- Add the bitter melon and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 3 tablespoons of hot water and cook for 3-4 minutes until the water evaporates.
- Give the sauce mixture a stir then pour it into the wok. Cook until the sauce thickens then transfer to a serving dish. Enjoy!
Sunshine
Easiest betterment recipe to follow and it was a delicious side dish for dinner. Thank you for sharing. Also the hint about soaking the melon in salt to reduce the bitterness is new to me. I appreciate the info!
Grumpy
You're welcome, glad you liked it!