The Best Bitter Melon Recipes

Written by
Liv Wan
Liv Wan is a former professional chef who has published three cookbooks about Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine.
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Liv Wan
Updated 04/06/21
Bitter Melon Stir-Fry With Pork

The Spruce
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 3 servings

Bitter melon originated from India and was introduced into China during the 14th century. After this bitter melon has become a Chinese household regular vegetable and is as popular now as it was a few hundred years ago.

Bitter melon taste “bitter,” just as the name suggests. The texture can be either crunchy or soft depending on how you prepare it. I personally love bitter melon nowadays but I really didn’t like it until one point when my mother made me a dish called “stir-fry bitter melon with pork” and since then I’ve loved this weird looking and funny tasting vegetable.

In Chinese culture it’s believed eating bitter melon can help reduce blood sugar, help your liver recover and detox your body.

Another interesting fact about bitter melon. Most of the time, bitter melons in Taiwan are white in color and not green. We have the green variety but the most popular type of bitter melon in Taiwan are the white color ones. White bitter melons tend to be softer in texture and more bitter in flavor. To date I’ve only come across green bitter melons in the UK and these tend to be quite small but white bitter melons in Taiwan are usually the size of a beer bottle.

You can have a look at this article “How to prepare bitter melon” to learn how to prepare bitter melon ready to be cooked.

Here are three of popular bitter melon recipes: 

Ingredients

  • Bitter Melon Stir-Fry Ingredients:
  • 1 pound bitter melon (about 1 1/4 melons)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • Seasonings:
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons oil for stir-frying
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • Optional: a few drops of sesame oil
  • Bitter Melon Stir-Fry With Pork Ingredients:
  • 1 pound of bitter melon
  • 1/2 pound lean pork
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
  • Seasonings:
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper (or white pepper)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons cornstarch (plus, 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese salted/fermented black beans
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or peanut oil, as needed)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
  • Optional: salt and pepper (to taste)
  • Bitter Melon Stir-Fry With Dried Shrimp Ingredients:
  • 2 tablespoons dried shrimp (soften in warm water then drain)
  • 2 small-sized green bitter melons (thinly sliced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped finely)
  • 1 chili (seeded and chopped finely)
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Seasonings:
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon demerara sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon rice wine

Steps to Make It

Bitter Melon Stir-Fry

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  2. To prepare the bitter melon, cut in half lengthwise.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  3. Remove the seeds using a small metal spoon.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  4. Cut on the diagonal into thin slices.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  5. Degorge the bitter melon by sprinkling salt over the slices and placing them in a colander to drain for 15 minutes.

  6. In a small bowl, mash the chili pepper flakes with the minced garlic.

  7. Heat wok over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and chili mixture.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  8. Stir-fry briefly until aromatic - about 30 seconds.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  9. Add the bitter melon. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, then splash with the balsamic vinegar and soy sauce.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  10. Stir in the sugar. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Until the bitter melon is browning and beginning to soften.

    Bitter Melon Stir-Fry recipe
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  11. Stir in a few drops sesame oil if desired.

Tip

  • This recipe calls for red wine vinegar or even balsamic vinegar for a bit more “bite.” But if you have a good Chinese rice wine feel free to substitute it.

Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe ingredients
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  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  3. Cut the ends off the bitter melon and cut in half lengthwise (do not peel).

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Remove the seeds and pith from the middle of the melon with a small spoon.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Cut the melon diagonally into 1/4-inch slices.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Place the sliced bitter melon in the boiling water and parboil until it is just tender, about 2 to 3 minutes, then drain.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  7. Cut the pork across the grain into very thin, 1/8-inch thick slices that are 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  8. Place in a bowl and add the soy sauce, 2 teaspoons rice wine or sherry, pepper, and cornstarch, stirring to combine and let the pork marinate while preparing the other ingredients.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  9. In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth and 1 tablespoon sherry.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  10. In a separate small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  11. Rinse the black beans to remove excess salt. Mash the beans with the side of a cleaver or knife.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  12. Stir together the beans and chopped garlic with a small amount of water.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  13. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a preheated wok. When the oil is hot, add the bean and garlic mixture.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  14. Cook, stirring for about 15 seconds until aromatic, then add the pork. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pork turns white and is nearly cooked. Remove the pork from the pan.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

  15. Heat 1 to 2 teaspoons oil in the wok, as needed. When the oil is hot, add the bitter melon. Stir-fry for a minute, then pour in the chicken broth mixture. Add the pork back into the pan, stirring to mix everything together.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

  16. Cover and simmer for 2 minutes.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

  17. Re-stir the cornstarch/water mixture. Push the other ingredients to the sides of the wok and add it to the chicken broth in the middle of the wok, stirring to thicken. Stir everything together, stir in the sesame oil, and season with salt or pepper if desired.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
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  18. Serve hot and enjoy!

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Pork recipe
     The Spruce

Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Cut the ends off the bitter melon and cut in half lengthwise (do not peel). 

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Shrimp recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Remove the seeds and pith from the middle of the melon with a small spoon. 

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
     The Spruce

  4. Cut the melon diagonally into 1/4-inch slices.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
     The Spruce

  5. Heat up oil in a wok then stir fry garlic and chili until the fragrance comes out.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
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  6. Add the dried shrimp and stir-fry for 10 seconds.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
     The Spruce

  7. Add bitter melon and 1 tablespoon water. Stir-fry for a couple minutes.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
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  8. Add all the seasonings and stir-fry for 1 minute.

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
     The Spruce

  9. Serve hot and enjoy!

    Stir-Fry Bitter Melon With Dried Shrimp
     The Spruce

Tip

  • The skin of the bitter melon is edible, so don't worry about peeling it while prepping.