Bitter Gourd Sauce & Soup

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), also known as bitter melon, is a very special fruit. As the name suggest, it is bitter and the taste is quite unique. The taste may not be palatable to the populations in the west but has found favour among a lot in the east. It is said that the ripe fruit is more bitter, so it would be wiser to pick a hard, green fruit. Besides that, soaking the cut pieces in salt water will wash off some of the bitterness.

This fruit is said to possess a few medicinal properties. Given it's bitter taste, it is known as a cooling fruit, suitable to reduce heat and other hot conditions. In addition to that, bitters are generally known to be good digestive aids. So, bitter gourd is also believed to be a good digestive stimulant for sluggish digestion or bowel movement. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), bitter gourd was used in the treatment of diabetes. Given all these benefits, it should be noted that bitter gourd is considered contraindicated for pregnant women as it may have emmenagogue effect.

Now that we have a general idea of the fruit, let us go into the recipe of making bitter gourd sauce & soup.

Items to prepare:

• Bitter gourd, sliced or diced, amount depending on how bitter you like it
• Chicken meat, sliced or diced as preferred
• Cooking oil
• Salt
• White Pepper
• Soya sauce
• Water

Steps for bitter gourd sauce:

1. Marinate the chicken meat in a bit of salt, white pepper, oil and soya sauce for 10 to 30 minutes.
2. Heat the sauce pan/pot/wok and pour in some oil.
3. Put in the chicken meat and bitter gourd at the same time.
4. Stir around for a minute then add some water to cover the meat and gourd.
5. Close the lid and let it cook.
6. When meat is cooked, test the taste and add salt or soya sauce if desired.
7. Ready to serve once the desired taste is achieved.

Steps for bitter gourd soup:

1. Marinate the chicken meat in a bit of salt, white pepper, oil and soya sauce for 10 to 30 minutes.
2. Boil a pot of water.
3. Put in the bitter gourd.
4. Close lid and let it cook for a few minutes first, as bitter gourd needs a longer time to cook.
5. Put in meat and close lid again.
6. When meat is cooked, test the taste and add salt or soya sauce if desired.
7. Ready to serve once the desired taste is achieved.

Personally, I love to the sauce better as the oil will draw out a stronger aroma and taste. To serve it, I will pour it onto a bowl of noodle or rice vermicelli. It can also be served with rice. I would rate this recipe 9 out of 10 as it is easy to prepare, aromatic, tasty and healthy.