Tips

The Benefits of Blanching Bitter Melon Prior to Cooking

Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, is a fantastic health-boosting food. However, it contains oxalic acid, which can hinder the absorption of calcium in the body. To counteract this, it is advisable to blanch or parboil the bitter melon before stir-frying or cooking it further. This simple step helps to reduce the negative impact of oxalic acid and ensures your body can still absorb the calcium it needs.

Administrator

14 July, 2024

Bitter Melon’s Nutritional Value

As you may know, bitter melon is a vegetable packed with essential nutrients, offering a plethora of health benefits. It is an excellent source of Vitamins B1 and C, as well as minerals like Zinc, Potassium, and Protein. These nutrients work together to boost your body’s immunity and overall health.

The bitter taste of bitter melon has a cooling effect, benefiting the liver, and aiding digestion and urination. Dishes made with bitter melon are believed to support the treatment of various health conditions, including diabetes, low blood pressure, and even cancer.

Why Blanch Bitter Melon Before Cooking?

Home cooks often share a secret tip: blanching bitter melon in hot water before cooking. This method effectively removes any remaining toxins on the vegetable, such as oxalic acid. When consumed, oxalic acid can interfere with the absorption of Calcium from other foods. Thus, it is crucial to eliminate this substance before eating bitter melon.

Additionally, blanching bitter melon at the right temperature (around 80°C and above) helps reduce its bitterness. However, excessive heat can destroy the valuable nutrients found in this vegetable.

Delicious and Nutritious Bitter Melon Recipes

Bitter melon is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, including stir-fried bitter melon, stuffed bitter melon with meat, bitter melon salad with shrimp paste, and chicken stew with bitter melon. When cooking with bitter melon, avoid overcooking to retain its nutritional value.

Bitter melon tea is also a popular and nutritious beverage. Drinking it daily can help prevent skin aging and reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

We hope that these insights will help you prepare and enjoy bitter melon dishes, allowing you to reap all the nutritional benefits it has to offer.

Frequently asked questions

Blanching bitter melon helps to reduce its bitterness and improve its flavor. It also makes the melon softer and more suitable for cooking, especially if you are stir-frying or adding it to soups. Blanching also helps to retain the bright green color of the melon, making it more visually appealing.

The process of blanching helps to leach out some of the bitter compounds present in the melon. These compounds, called cucurbitacins, are water-soluble, so when the melon is immersed in boiling water, some of these compounds are drawn out, resulting in a less bitter taste.

Blanching time can vary depending on your preference and the size of the melon pieces. Generally, 2-3 minutes in boiling water is sufficient. However, if you prefer a milder taste, you can blanch for a little longer, up to 5 minutes. Be careful not to overcook it, as it can become too soft and mushy.

While blanching is not mandatory, it is highly recommended if you want to reduce the bitterness and improve the texture of the melon. If you don’t mind the stronger flavor and firmer texture, you can skip the blanching step and cook it directly. However, keep in mind that blanching does make the melon more suitable for certain cooking methods and dishes.

Yes, blanching is a great way to prepare bitter melon for freezing. After blanching, immediately plunge the melon into ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. Then, drain the melon pieces and pat them dry before transferring them to freezer-safe containers or bags. This way, you can enjoy bitter melon throughout the year.