Vietnamese Bitter Melon Stir-Fry topped with Eggs is an easy and delicious meal with the health benefits. It is made with only a only a few ingredients, and only one pan for cooking it.
What is Bitter Melon?
Bitter Melon (or bitter gourd) is known as ” muop dang” or ” kho qua” in Vietnamese. ” Muop dang” is the literal word-by-word Vietnamese meaning of bitter Melon. ” Kho qua” signifies harsh living circumstances. They are currently but in the past.
Both in English and French, the word does not sound appealing, doesn’t it? The vegetable is funny looking with a bitter taste that I believe turns many people off. I’ll give you some tips for reducing their bitterness, in the following section.
I confess that I used to hate it to a degree as a child. My mom would make it each week and explaining every time how nutritious bitter melon is. In Vietnam there is an assumption it is believed that bitter melon is able to regulate blood sugar levels and detoxify the liver.
In Vietnamese culinary traditions the bitter melon is cooked alongside other ingredients in order to balance the bitterness. The most well-known methods of cooking this vegetable is to stir fry it with eggs, or making the soup stuffed with bitter melon (Canh Khổ Qua).
I’m not sure if I’m an advocate of bitter melon. However, when cooked properly this dish of stir-fry with bitter melon eggs is delicious due to eggs’ richness aids in reducing it’s bitter flavor. It’s light thanks to soft scrambled eggs, and the crunchy bitter melon.
What Can You Do to Make Bitter Melon More Bitter
There are many bitter melons that taste exactly the same. I have noticed that some are more in bitterness than other. If you are looking for melons with bitter taste, try to find ones with few and smooth the ridges. The more ridges, and the more sharp and hard the ridges are, the more bitter it is.
Another trick is to cut bitter melon into thin slices and then let it soak in the salted water in a bowl to cut down on bitterness (or sprinkle salt on it and then wash). I came across this idea in the cover of a Vietnamese magazine, and it definitely can make the flavor more appealing.
In this stir-fried bittermelon with eggs recipe particularly, adding eggs in a larger quantity will make the dish more appealing. If you are still convinced that you can’t take the bitter taste that comes with bittermelon then I suggest the Cucumber Stir-Fry with Egg instead.
A friend of ours recently shared with us that his mother briefly blanched bitter Melon in boiling water in order to cut down on bitterness. It sounds simple and makes sense.
How to prepare Bitter Melon for Stir-Frying
The first step is to cut the bitter melon lengthwise in half. After that, use a small spoon for scooping out the white, soft portion that has seeds in. Cut very thinly into half moons and then soak in salted water for a few hours.
How to cook the Vietnamese Bitter Melon Stir-Fry Using Eggs
The dish is referred to as ” muop dang xao trung” or ” kho qua xao trung” in Vietnamese. It’s a fantastic recipe for dinner on a weeknight since it needs only a little ingredients and can be prepared quickly in just one pan.
The most important ingredients include bitter eggs, melon and melon juice, as well as cooking oil, and seasonings. Use light seasonings as we want the egg’s richness to shine.
I like adding some fish sauce for a touch of umami, however you can use soy sauce instead or even a little more salt to make this dish vegan.
1 After draining the bitter melon slices, heat them up until they begin to turn yellow or until soft to your taste. The next step must be completed quickly.
2 Pour the egg whites into the pan. Pull the eggs toward the center of the pan until they form large curds. Just give the entire pan an easy stir before moving onto a serving dish.
Don’t overcook eggs but don’t let it get too soft. I like soft and soft curds. It is best to cook at a low temperature to manage the temperature of eggs.
Additionally, make sure to make use of a non-stick skillet that is the type used to cook scrambled eggs. My favorite is an Sccanpan Non-stick pan.
SEE MORE:
- Bap Xao Recipe – Vietnamese Sauteed Corn w/ Dried Shrimps
- Vietnamese Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic (Đậu que xào tỏi recipe)
- Bo Luc Lac Recipe – Vietnamese Shaking Beef
Khổ Qua Xào Trứng – Bitter Melon Stir Fry with Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 bitter melons (about 5-6 1 oz)
- 3-4 large eggs (about 2/3-3/4 cup beaten eggs)
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- A dash from the fish sauce (or soy sauce, or even more salt to make it vegetarian)
Instructions
- Cut bitter melon lengthwise and scoop out the white, soft portion that has seeds in. Slice thinly into half moons.
- Slices of bitter melon into a bowl , and cover them with cold water. Add approximately one teaspoon of salt to the bowl. Let it soak in the bitter melon slices for 20-30 minutes. Then drain.
- Put eggs in an ice-cream bowl, and then beat them well. Sprinkle with a pinch salt.
- Set a non-stick skillet over medium-high temperature. Incorporate olive oil and add the slices of bitter melon that have been rinsed. Cook until they begin to lighten slightly, or until they're soft enough to be your preference. Add salt and a splash in fish sauce.
- Reduce the temperature to low or medium low. Place the bitter melon slices evenly across the pan. Then pour the eggs that have been beat in the skillet.
- Utilize a spatula or wooden spoon push the eggs towards the middle of the pan in order to create large curds. There will be bitter melon pieces and curds of eggs piled into the middle in the skillet. Turn the pile over and then give the entire pan an easy stir. It is important to do this quickly to prevent overcooking the eggs.
- After the eggs have been cooked to your preference Move everything to an eating plate. Sprinkle freshly black pepper, seasoned with salt and pepper, on the top.
