Bitter melon, a member of the gourd family, is used widely in Asian and East Indian cuisine. The green, spongy fruit tastes bitter and has a slightly pungent smell. However, bitter melon contains numerous vitamins and minerals that make it the perfect ingredient for a healthy and satisfying soup that you can prepare for your family in less than 30 minutes.
Identification
Bitter melon, also called bitter cucumber, balsam pear or art pumpkin, is an annual plant indigenous to India, South America, Asia and Africa, says Drugs.com. The plant grows yellow flowers and bitter tasting yellow-orange fruit. Stuffed bitter melon soup is an Asian dish that incorporates ripe bitter melons with meat, vegetables, herbs and spices, chicken stock or water.
Ingredients
Although stuffed bitter melon soup recipes vary widely, the base of each recipe begins with approximately 1 lb. of fresh bitter melons. Additional ingredients include about 4 oz. of ground beef, chicken or pork, or chicken breasts or thighs; about 3 cups of chicken stock or water; salt to taste; one diced carrot; ground black or white pepper to taste; ½ cup chopped green onions; approximately 1 tbsp. fresh garlic or garlic powder, and 2 tbsp. soy sauce, says AllRecipes.com. Some bitter melon soup recipes also call for 1 to 2 tsp. fish sauce, a condiment derived from fermented fish.
Preparation
To prepare stuffed bitter melon soup, cut each piece of melon in half and scoop out the seeds from the center, leaving the hollowed melon intact. Next, cut the hollow bitter melons into ¾ inch slices. Place the garlic, soy sauce, fish sauce, green onions, your choice of meat, salt and your choice of pepper into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Stuff the bitter melon slices with the meat mixture, and carefully drop the slices into the boiling water or chicken stock. Add the carrots to the stock also, and boil the mixture for about 10 minutes, or until the bitter melon slices are fork tender. Remove from heat and serve over steamed white, brown or jasmine rice, says Bella Online.
Nutritional Value
Although the levels of each nutrient vary depending on the size and age of the fruit, bitter melon contains fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B3, beta carotene, potassium and iron, says BitterMelon.org.
Warning
Do not eat bitter melon if you are pregnant, as the fruit can induce bleeding and cause spontaneous abortion, warns Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
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