Bitter and Prickly Fruit with Detoxifying and Beauty Benefits

Due to its high nutritional content, bitter melon is known as the “summer treasure” and the “king of detoxification” because it contains many good nutrients for health. Eating bitter melon regularly helps cool down, detoxify, and prevent cancer. Therefore, it is classified by nutrition experts as one of the vegetables that should be eaten regularly.

Some studies have shown that bitter melon is rich in vitamins B, C, calcium, iron, and fiber. Eating bitter melon regularly helps detoxify, reduce fatigue, nourish the eyes, and nourish the breath. In addition, this fruit also helps balance blood sugar, fight viruses, prevent cancer-causing agents, and is an effective “ally” in maintaining a slim figure and taking care of the skin.

Although bitter melon has many good uses, few people can eat it because of its bitter taste. In fact, all you need is to know how to create a dish that is not bitter but still crispy, delicious, and refreshing. You can refer to the recipe below to have a delicious dish that preserves the nutritional content of bitter melon.

Ingredients

– Bitter melon: 1 fruit

– Garlic: 2 cloves

– Light soy sauce: 2 spoons

– Salt: 1 spoon

– Warm water: 20g

– Balsamic vinegar: 2 spoons

Instructions

– Wash the bitter melon and soak it in diluted salt water for about 5-10 minutes for safety. This will help remove all the dirt and residual pesticide. Then, use a knife to remove all the seeds and pith of the bitter melon, and then slice it into bite-sized pieces. Do not slice it too thin as it will make the bitter melon soft and not crispy.

– Boil a pot of clean water, add a little salt and cooking oil, and bring it to a boil. Then, blanch the sliced bitter melon in the boiling water for about 30 seconds and then transfer it to a bowl of cold water. Note that you should not blanch the bitter melon for too long. This step helps keep the bitter melon crispy, green, and removes the bitter taste.

– Prepare filtered water, light soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, salt, and sesame oil in appropriate proportions. Then, sauté the peppercorns and oak leaves, and then remove them. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry until golden brown. Then, pour the prepared sauce into the pan and bring it to a boil, then turn off the heat.

– Place the blanched bitter melon in a bowl and pour the cooked sauce over it. Use chopsticks to mix the bitter melon with the seasoning.

– Transfer the seasoned bitter melon to a plate, sprinkle a little white sesame on top, and it is done.

Notes for cooking bitter melon

– Because bitter melon is rich in nutrients, do not blanch it for too long, as it will deplete some of the nutrients.

– Blanching the bitter melon in boiling water with salt and cooking oil helps keep it green and crispy.

– Choose bitter melons with many veins, as they tend to be crispier and more flavorful.

– Prioritize selecting bitter melons with a fresh green color. If you see a yellowish color, do not buy them as they may be too ripe or wilted.

– If you want to choose bitter melons with thick flesh and a lot of juice, pay attention to the size of the veins. The larger the veins, the thicker the flesh.

– Sharp-edged bitter melons with a straight stem are delicious and should be purchased.