Bitter Melon
- Posted on
- By Renee Zuidwijk
- Posted in Bittermelon, Ingredients
Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, Sopropo or Ampalaya. It is related to the cucumber we all know, but its more bitter than the cucumber.
Bitter Melon
Bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, Sopropo or Ampalaya. It is related to the cucumber we all know, but its more bitter than the cucumber. Bitter gourd is a small green gourd with a wrinkled skin and a distinctively bitter taste.
Prior to cooking, it should be rubbed with salt and left to stand for an hour to reduce the bitterness, and then the salt is rinsed off. Bitter gourd is a nutrious vegetable. It controls blood sugar levels. The skin is edible but ou need to discard the spongy interior and seeds. When it is ripe, it becomes more bitter, the skins turns yellowish and the seeds become red. With its distinct taste, it is difficult to find a substitute. Fresh, frozen, canned, and bottled bitter gourd is available in some stores. We have canned bitter gourd in our webshop.