Bitter melon with eggs, or 苦瓜炒蛋 (kǔ guā chǎo dàn), is a homestyle Chinese language stir fry I cook dinner with skinny slices of contemporary bitter melon, delicate scrambled egg, and a single pinch of salt. The plate reveals up subsequent to a braised predominant and a bowl of steamed rice, the best way Chinese language households skinny out a richer desk with one contemporary clean-tasting vegetable.
I’ve to admit that I didn’t like bitter melon as a child. I’d push the slices to the aspect of my rice bowl and attain straight for winter melon soup as a substitute. I got here round the best way I got here round to black espresso, slowly, then unexpectedly, and the egg model is the one which introduced me over as a result of the delicate scramble takes the sharp edge down with out burying the vegetable.
When my husband and I lived in Beacon, New York, for 2 quick years, I planted bitter melon in our small yard. The deer, groundhogs, and rabbits labored their manner by means of every part I grew besides the bitter melon, which I joked was so sharp even the woodland animals wouldn’t contact it. Ha! If you need a contemporary Chinese language aspect that places a vegetable on the desk in quarter-hour and resets the palate between bites of a heavier predominant, observe my instructions under, the recipe walks you thru the blanch determination, the egg pull, and the ultimate fold. Now could be the proper time to make this recipe whereas bitter melon is in season!
Advantage of bitter melon
One of many causes I hold bitter melon on my weeknight stir fry checklist is what it does for the physique, not simply the plate. The pods are full of vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, and fiber, and Chinese language cooks have used bitter melon in Conventional Chinese language Drugs for generations to assist deliver down blood sugar, assist levels of cholesterol, and stop iron deficiency. My mother served it to me rising up the identical manner new moms in China nonetheless eat it throughout postpartum care, as a quiet, nutrient-dense vegetable that does actual work whilst you eat.
Substances
I’m not kidding after I say I solely use 5 elements to make this scrumptious and nutritious Bitter Melon with Eggs recipe. Listed below are the elements I exploit:
Eggs: I beat them with a pinch of salt proper earlier than they go within the pan.
Inexperienced onion: The slices go in forward of the bitter melon to infuse the oil, and carry a quiet allium layer that ties the egg and the vegetable collectively.
Salt: A single pinch. I hold the seasoning easy as a result of the tender egg already softens the bitter edge, and I need the vegetable to style just like the vegetable. Generally I additionally add a small quantity of hen bouillon powder to additional improve the flavour, like what Chinese language eating places do.
Peanut oil: I cut up it throughout the egg cross and the vegetable cross. Peanut oil holds at a excessive stir fry warmth. If I’m out, I’m going for a impartial oil with a excessive smoke level.
Bitter melon: I search for a agency, heavy pod with sharp ridges. Smaller, youthful pods are extra tender and fewer sharp, which is what I attain for after I cook dinner this dish for somebody new to the vegetable. Beneath is how I prep it:
1. I minimize every pod in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and the white spongy core with a small spoon.
2. Slice into skinny half-moons.
How you can Make
1. Blanch the bitter melon if you’d like a softer edge: Convey a big pot of water to a rolling boil, drop the sliced bitter melon in for about 30 seconds, then drain and rinse below chilly faucet water to cease the cooking. Drain once more and pat the items dry with paper towels so the pan doesn’t steam later. Skip this step when the pods are very younger and in season.
2. Scramble the eggs: Warmth half the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high warmth till the floor shimmers, pour within the crushed egg, and stir flippantly with a spatula. Pull the egg off the warmth the second it units, nonetheless delicate, and slide it onto a plate.
3. Bloom the inexperienced onion: Add the remainder of the oil to the identical pan, drop within the sliced inexperienced onion, and stir for just a few seconds.
4. Stir fry the bitter melon: Add the bitter melon and the salt, then stir fry for two to three minutes till the slices soften. If the pods are robust, splash in a tablespoon of water, drop a lid on the pan for a minute, then carry it and end the stir fry.
5. Fold the egg again in: Return the scrambled egg to the pan and stir every part collectively for just a few seconds, simply lengthy sufficient for the egg to heat by means of, then slide the entire thing onto a plate.
6. Serve: I normally serve this dish with just a few of my favourite sides. Take a look at my serving recommendations under for a few of my favourite pairings.
Cooking Notes
Choose the smallest pods on the market: Massive mature bitter melons style a lot sharper, and the seed cavity takes up extra of the pod. Younger pods are tender, much less sharp, and sooner to cook dinner.
Salt the slices for 10 minutes when skipping the blanch: A light-weight salt treatment attracts water out, takes the bitter edge down, and shortens the stir fry time. I rinse and pat dry earlier than the pan.
Pull the egg out of the pan undercooked: The egg returns on the finish and finishes there. Absolutely cooking the egg in step 2 turns it rubbery by the point the dish reaches the desk.
Use the identical pan for the egg and the vegetable: The small browned bits the egg leaves behind season the inexperienced onion and the bitter melon after they meet the identical floor.
Style earlier than pulling the bitter melon off the range: If it nonetheless bites too laborious, a splash of water and a fast lined minute mellows it with out making it soggy. If it tastes balanced already, I cease proper there.
How I Prefer to Serve
More often than not, I serve bitter melon with eggs as a aspect subsequent to a heavier predominant. The dish cuts by means of a wealthy braise the best way a contemporary salad cuts by means of a roast, and a small spoonful on the aspect of a rice bowl resets the palate between richer bites. On a weeknight at dwelling, this goes incredible with a hong shao rou, and a bowl of steamed jasmine rice.
A typical Sunday at our place I like putting mother’s braised pork spare ribs or braised hen with mushrooms because the centerpiece, vegetable fried rice for the carb, and the bitter melon plate because the inexperienced. If I desire a second vegetable on the desk, I add bok choy and mushroom stir fry or air fryer Chinese language eggplant so the desk has two completely different vegetable textures. So good!
Often Ask Questions
Which kind of bitter melon ought to I exploit?
Chinese language bitter melon is the only option for this recipe. It’s bigger, lighter inexperienced, and has a gentler bitterness than the smaller, darker Indian selection.
Do I’ve to blanch the bitter melon?
I blanch the pods when I’m cooking with mature store-bought bitter melon, or when somebody at my desk is new to the vegetable. The blanch knocks the sharpness again and shortens the stir fry time. When I’ve younger bitter melon picked early within the season, I skip the blanch and cook dinner the slices straight within the pan as a result of they’re already tender and delicate. Personally, I skip the blanching more often than not as a result of I don’t thoughts the bitterness and I choose to hurry up my cooking.
Why is my bitter melon nonetheless too sharp after cooking?
Two easy steps assist tame the bitterness. First, toss the sliced bitter melon with salt and let it sit for 10 minutes. This attracts out extra moisture and a number of the bitterness, and the slices can then be rinsed earlier than cooking. For an excellent milder taste, you may briefly blanch the bitter melon earlier than stir-frying. That stated, bitter melon will all the time retain a few of its signature bitterness, irrespective of the way it’s ready. In the event you don’t take pleasure in bitter flavors in any respect, this dish might be not for you.
Can I add meat?
Sure, bitter melon works very properly with meat as properly. I like to make use of shrimp on this dish. Merely pan fried the shrimp with some salt, take it out, then add again with the eggs. If utilizing different protein equivalent to beef and hen, take a look at my bitter melon stir fry with beef, the place I used a brown sauce to deliver every part collectively.
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My stir-fried bitter melon with eggs solely takes 5 easy elements and quarter-hour to make. It’s a comforting homestyle aspect dish that brings diet and shade to a Chinese language meal, and the recipe works for vegetarian and gluten-free tables.
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Convey a big pot of water to a boil. Add the bitter melon. Blanch for 30 seconds. Drain instantly and rinse the bitter melon with chilly faucet water to cease cooking. Drain totally once more and pat dry with paper towels. (*Footnote 1)
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Warmth 1/2 tablespoon oil in a medium-sized skillet and warmth over medium-high warmth till scorching. Add the crushed egg. Calmly scramble and cook dinner till simply cooked by means of. Switch to a plate.
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Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and the inexperienced onion. Stir just a few occasions to launch the perfume.
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Add the bitter melon and sprinkle with the salt (*Footnote 2). Stir fry for two to three minutes, or till beginning to soften. Style the bitter melon. If it’s nonetheless very robust, add a splash of water and canopy the pan for 1 minute to steam it.
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Add again the cooked eggs. Cook dinner and stir to combine properly. Switch every part to a plate and function a aspect.
Ingredient Substitution Information
- It’s necessary to blanch the bitter melon should you’re utilizing full-grown bitter melon or choose a much less bitter style. When bitter melon is in season, or should you’re utilizing homegrown bitter melon, it would have a tenderer and crisper texture with much less bitter style. On this case, it’s OK to skip the blanching course of.
- I generally like to make use of 1/2 teaspoon hen bouillon powder with a pinch of salt to season the dish too enhance the flavour.
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 94kcal, Carbohydrates: 4.4g, Protein: 4.9g, Fats: 6.7g, Saturated Fats: 1.6g, Ldl cholesterol: 123mg, Sodium: 340mg, Potassium: 225mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.3g, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 1mg
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