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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
25 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Wild bitter melon is not difficult to eat, but on the contrary, it is a very useful ingredient for human health. Today, sister Ngoc Hien will go to the kitchen and cook wild bitter melon stuffed with meat soup, which helps to cool down, detoxify the body, suitable for hot days. So why wait? Let’s get started!
Ingredients for Wild bitter melon stuffed with meat soup Serves 4 people
Wild bitter melon 800 gr Pork 400 gr Chives/cilantro A little Fish sauce 1/2 tablespoon Common seasoning A little (Salt/ sugar/ monosodium glutamate/ ground pepper)
How to choose fresh ingredients
Information and tips for buying wild bitter melon
- Wild bitter melon is a climbing plant, belonging to the bitter melon family, but its leaves are shaped like eggs, with serrated edges and fine hairs on the leaf blade.
- The fruit of wild bitter melon is only about the size of a thumb, shaped like a small gourd with bumpy skin, green when unripe and turns yellow when ripe.
- When eaten, the fruit is more bitter than other types of bitter melons, but in return, its medicinal properties are very high and very good for health.
- You should choose bitter melons that are bright green, uniform in size, and intact, feeling firm to the touch.
- Do not buy ripe wild bitter melons that have turned yellow, wilted, or soft fruits.
How to choose fresh, delicious pork
- You should choose pork that has a pinkish-red color, bright meat color, and a layer of fat that is cloudy white, as this indicates fresh, recently slaughtered pork.
- When you touch the pork, if it’s good meat, you will feel the meat’s elasticity; it should not be sticky or slimy because there is a dry membrane covering the outside of the meat.
- For dishes that require minced meat, you should buy lean pork, as this type of meat is usually tender, easy to mince, and has a more delicious flavor than meat from other parts.
- Do not buy pieces of meat that have uneven colors or show bruises, as this may be meat taken from sick pigs.
- Avoid buying pork if it smells strange or feels slimy to the touch, as this indicates that the meat has spoiled and is no longer usable.
See details: How to choose fresh, delicious pork
How to make Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup
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Prepare the ingredients
When you buy bitter melon, cut off both ends, make a long cut along the length of the fruit, then gently separate it. Use a teaspoon to scrape out all the seeds inside, being careful not to tear the bitter melon skin, as this will affect the stuffing.
After that, wash the bitter melon with diluted salt water, then rinse with clean water 2-3 times and let it drain.
Pick off the damaged leaves from the green onions and cilantro, discard the roots, and wash them clean. Cut the green onion tops and put them in a mortar, add 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper, and pound until fine. The remaining green onion leaves and cilantro can be chopped or cut into pieces as desired.
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Prepare and chop the meat
To remove the unpleasant smell from the purchased meat, rub it directly with a little salt, rinse thoroughly, and let it drain. Cut the meat into thin slices and then chop it finely.
Tips for preparing pork to avoid unpleasant odors:
- Method 1: Rinse the pork briefly; to eliminate the smell, rub the meat with salt or lemon juice for about 3 – 5 minutes, then rinse again with clean water, chop it, and it’s ready for cooking.
- Method 2: You can also blanch the meat briefly in boiling water for about 3 minutes, then remove it, rinse with water, and chop it.
- Method 3: To get rid of the meat’s odor, you can use a little vinegar to wash the meat, then rinse multiple times with water before cooking.
See details: How to prepare clean, odor-free pork
Then marinate the meat with a mixture of seasonings including: 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper, mix well, and let it marinate for about 5 minutes for the meat to absorb the flavors.
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Stuff the minced meat into the bitter melon
Stuff the marinated meat mixture into the insides of each bitter melon, to make the dish look appealing, you should only stuff a sufficient amount (about 1 teaspoon) into each one!
Repeat the process until all ingredients are used.
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Cooking the soup
Pour into the pot 1.5 liters of water, along with crushed onion and pepper, and bring to a boil over high heat.
When the water boils, add the stuffed bitter melon and reduce the heat to low, cooking for about 15 – 20 minutes until the bitter melon is cooked.
To keep the soup clear and more flavorful, remember to regularly skim off the foam that rises to the surface while cooking.
After the bitter melon is cooked and fragrant, season with: 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce, and stir well to blend the seasoning.
Continue to simmer on low heat for 2 – 3 minutes until the bitter melon is tender, taste and adjust the seasoning to your family’s preference, then add chopped green onions and cilantro before turning off the stove.
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Finished product
The stuffed wild bitter melon soup is delicious, hot, with an incredibly appealing aroma that will make your whole family feel hungry right away. The tender bitter melon combines with the well-seasoned minced meat. The soup is refreshing with a hint of the bitter taste of the bitter melon, making it very unique; you definitely have to try it!
See more:
TasteVN is confident that with detailed suggestions on how to cook forest stuffed bitter melon soup, it will help you add a refreshing dish to cool down your meal on hot sunny days!
