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The Bitter Melon Story: A Tasty Tradition for the Lunar New Year

Introducing the humble bitter melon soup, a familiar dish on festive occasions. But why is it a staple during the holidays? There's a special significance to this bitter yet delightful dish, and we're here to uncover its unique story.

Administrator

10 July, 2024

The traditional New Year’s feast in Southern Vietnam often features dishes with symbolic names and meanings. For instance, the tray of five fruits must include “cầu, dừa, đủ, xoài” (a type of melon and three varieties of nuts/fruits), symbolizing wishes for completeness and abundance. The red color of watermelon signifies hopes for good luck, and the dish “canh khổ qua” carries a special significance, as its name translates to “bitterness soup.”

1. The Significance of “Canh Khổ Qua” on New Year’s Day

The Meaning of “Bitter Melon Soup” on the New Year

True to its name, “canh khổ qua” symbolizes hope that the difficulties and hardships of the past year will pass, making way for a new year filled with luck and ease.

While bitter melon soup is a familiar dish, its presence on the New Year’s table holds a special significance. With this soup on the menu, people feel reassured that the misfortunes of the previous year have passed, and the new year will bring positive changes and better times.

Additionally, “canh khổ qua” is a cooling and nourishing dish during the festive season. Many families choose to cook this soup as a natural remedy to detoxify and cool down during the hot weather and greasy meals of the New Year celebrations.

2. How to Make “Khổ Qua” Stuffed with Minced Meat

Preparing “Bitter Melon” Stuffed with Minced Meat

Ingredients: 3 bitter melons, 200g minced meat, 30g wood ear mushrooms, 30g shiitake mushrooms, 50g scallions, 20g coriander, 2 tsp white sugar, 2 tsp seasoning powder, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp ground pepper, 50g straw mushrooms, and 40g cellophane noodles.

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: Soak the dried shiitake and wood ear mushrooms, and cellophane noodles in warm water until softened. Then, cut them into small pieces. Finely chop the roots of the scallions and coriander, keeping the leaves separate to add to the soup later.

Step 2: In a bowl, mix the minced meat, soaked and chopped mushrooms, cellophane noodles, chopped scallion and coriander roots, 1 teaspoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of seasoning powder, 2 teaspoons of ground pepper, and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Let the mixture marinate for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

Step 3: Wash the bitter melons, scoop out the seeds, and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Stuff the bitter melon pieces with the marinated meat mixture, using a spoon to pack it tightly.

Step 4: In a pot, combine 800ml of cold water, 50g of straw mushrooms, and the stuffed bitter melons. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about an hour until the bitter melon becomes tender.

Step 5: Use chopsticks to test the doneness of the bitter melon. If it’s soft, add the chopped scallion and coriander leaves, turn off the heat, and serve. This soup tastes delicious when accompanied by a dipping sauce made of fish sauce and chili peppers.

For more details, refer to the following article: [Article Link].

We hope that this explanation has helped you understand the significance of “canh khổ qua” and provided you with the knowledge to prepare this traditional dish, ensuring that your family will enjoy it during the New Year celebrations.

Frequently asked questions

Bitter melon, or ‘kho qua’ in Vietnamese, is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. Its bitter taste is symbolic of leaving the hardships of the previous year behind and embracing a fresh start.

There are various ways to prepare bitter melon, but for the Lunar New Year, it is commonly made into a tasty dish called ‘kho qua ngot’. This dish involves stuffing the bitter melon with a mixture of pork and shrimp, then braising it in a sweet and savory sauce.

When choosing bitter melons, look for ones that are firm, bright green, and have a smooth skin. Avoid melons with soft spots or discoloration. Also, opt for smaller melons as they tend to be less bitter and more suitable for this dish.

Absolutely! While the traditional recipe calls for pork and shrimp, you can easily adapt it to cater to different dietary preferences or restrictions. For a vegetarian option, simply omit the meat and use tofu or extra vegetables. You can also adjust the sweetness or bitterness to your liking by modifying the amount of sugar or using less bitter melon.

The Lunar New Year, known as ‘Tet’ in Vietnam, is the most important and widely celebrated holiday in the country. It marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar and is a time for family reunions, feasting, and paying respect to ancestors.