Bitter melon is a unique vegetable that’s popular in Asian cooking. As its name suggests, bitter melon has a bitter taste that can be off-putting for some. When paired with eggs and cooked properly, the bitterness of the melon can be reduced, bringing out its more pleasant flavor notes. Here’s a simple recipe for sautéed bitter melon with eggs that turns this vegetable into an enjoyable dish.
1. Bitter Melon Stir-Fry With Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 medium bitter melon
- 2 eggs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced or finely grated
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cooking oil
Instructions
Step 1: Boil the Bitter Melon
- Slice the bitter melon lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and white pithy part from the middle. This is the most bitter part of the melon.
- Cut the melon into thin half-moon slices.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the bitter melon slices and blanch for 2-3 minutes. This helps remove some bitterness.
- Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Beat the Eggs
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat well with a fork.
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Aromatics
- Mince the garlic, ginger and green onions.
- Combine the prepared aromatics in a small bowl for easy addition later.
Step 4: Heat Oil in Pan & Sauté Bitter Melon
- Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the blanched bitter melon slices in a single layer, taking care not to overcrowd.
- Sauté for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned.
- Transfer sautéed bitter melon to a clean plate.
Step 5: Cook the Eggs
- Add 1 teaspoon oil to the same pan over medium heat.
- Pour in the beaten eggs. Let sit for 10-15 seconds.
- As the eggs start to set on the bottom, gently push cooked edges towards the center with a spatula so uncooked egg flows underneath.
- Turn heat to low. Continue cooking, scraping bottom of pan and tilting to allow liquid egg to reach hot surface, until eggs are mostly set but still slightly runny.
- Transfer scrambled eggs to another clean plate.
Step 6: Finish the Dish
- Heat 1 teaspoon oil in pan. Sauté garlic, ginger and green onions for 30 seconds.
- Return bitter melon and scrambled eggs to pan.
- Drizzle soy sauce and sesame oil over top. Gently toss to coat everything well.
- Give a final taste and adjust seasoning with more soy, salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove from heat and serve hot with steamed jasmine rice or pasta
Blanching the bitter melon before sautéing is vital. This preliminary cooking helps remove bitter compounds from the melon, ultimately giving you better flavor once combined with the aromatic scrambled eggs.
Tame the intense bitter bite of this unique veggie by pairing with fluffy eggs. Proper blanching and sautéing helps mellow out bitter melon’s harshness. The resulting skillet meal mixes sweet, savory and slightly bitter flavors for a dish that highlights the nuances of an exotic Asian ingredient. Give bitter melon a chance by scrambling it up with eggs for a tasty approach to cooking this misunderstood gourd!