Bitter melon has detoxifying, eye-opening, cooling effects and helps reduce blood sugar, inflammation, and toxins while boosting the immune system.
In traditional Chinese medicine, bitter melon is considered cool, bitter, non-toxic, and regular consumption can help reduce skin diseases, making the skin smooth. In modern medicine, bitter melon has antibacterial and antiviral effects, fights cancer cells, and is a valuable support for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
To take advantage of the benefits of bitter melon, you can refer to the following dishes.
Spicy and Sweet Bitter Melon Salad
Ingredients
– Large bitter melon: 1 fruit
– Chili pepper: 1 fruit
– Garlic: 1 bulb
– Oyster sauce: 1 tablespoon (optional)
– Salt: 2 teaspoons
– Cooking oil: 1 tablespoon
– Scallions: 1 stalk
– White sugar: half tablespoon
– Sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
Instructions
– Wash the bitter melon, cut it in half, remove the seeds and scrape off the white membrane inside the fruit. The white membrane is the main cause of the bitter taste of the bitter melon, so you should remove it. After preparing, slice the bitter melon into thin slices. Wash and chop the scallions. Peel and mince the garlic. Rinse the chili pepper and cut into rounds.
– Fill a pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of salt. Boil the water, then blanch the bitter melon for 10 seconds and immediately remove it. This step helps reduce the bitterness in the fruit.
– Place the blanched bitter melon in a bowl of cold water to cool down, then remove and drain.
– Next, put the bitter melon in a large bowl. Add minced garlic, chopped scallions, pepper, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, half tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Mix all the ingredients well, and you have a simple and delicious spicy and sweet bitter melon salad. This dish is crispy and refreshing, perfect for cooling down in the summer.
Bitter Melon Salad
Ingredients
– Bitter melon: 300g
– Sweet pepper: 1 fruit
– Onion: 1 bulb
– Minced garlic
– Seasonings: sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, etc.
Instructions
– First, wash the bitter melon, remove the seeds, and cut the fruit into 4 equal parts and then slice.
– Dice the onion and sweet pepper.
– Prepare the dressing mixture: depending on your taste, adjust the amount of sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, and soy sauce. After mixing, pour the dressing mixture into a small saucepan, heat it on the stove, and let it cool.
– Blanch the sliced bitter melon in boiling water with a pinch of salt. Blanch quickly and then immediately rinse with cold water to maintain crispness.
– Put all the bitter melon, onion, and sweet pepper in a bowl, then mix well with the cooled dressing mixture and enjoy.