Bitter melon salad is surely a salad that is quite familiar to many Vietnamese people. This salad is made with very simple steps but the taste is incredibly wonderful and appealing. Today, let’s cook with TasteVN to prepare this delicious salad for your summer meal!
1. Bitter melon salad
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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Bitter melon salad For 2 – 3 people
Bitter melon 300 gr Gluten noodles 2 sticks Oyster mushrooms 100 gr Carrot 50 gr Chili 1 piece Lemon juice 2 tablespoons Chili sauce 1 tablespoon Cooking oil 200 ml Vegetarian fish sauce 2 tablespoons Soy sauce 2 tablespoons Vegetarian seasoning 1 teaspoon Sugar 4 tablespoons
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh bitter melon (bitter gourd)
- You should choose bitter melons that have a green skin, not wilted or scratched. When you gently squeeze the fruit, you should still feel a firm and moderately hard texture, not soft or mushy.
- You should also pay attention to choosing bitter melons that have many tiny veins, as these are naturally grown fruits that have not been overexposed to chemicals.
- Avoid selecting overly large bitter melons, dark green in color, or those with shiny skin, as these are usually treated with stimulants to increase size.
How to choose fresh carrots
- You should choose carrots that have a bright orange color, smooth skin, not too large in size, and feel firm to the hand with a moderate hardness.
- You need to avoid choosing carrots that show signs of wilting, bruising, oversized, or misshapen, as these are old and no longer fresh.
How to choose fresh, safe oyster mushrooms
- You should choose oyster mushrooms that have a thick, chewy, and firm stem, large caps that are not torn, and the mushrooms will be white or gray depending on the type.
- Additionally, you should prioritize choosing mushrooms that grow in clusters and have a distinctive aroma to ensure the flavor of the dish.
- Avoid selecting mushrooms that are wrinkled, discolored compared to normal mushrooms, and have a foul smell.
-800x450.jpg "2 Ways to Make Crispy, Delicious Bitter Melon Salad for Summer Meals 3")
How to Prepare Vegetarian Bitter Melon Salad
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Prepare the Ingredients
After purchasing bitter melon, wash it thoroughly with water, use a knife to cut off both ends and slice the bitter melon in half. Next, use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and cut it into thin slices for eating.
While slicing the bitter melon, you should prepare a bowl of ice-cold water, placing each piece of bitter melon in it to maintain its crispness and reduce the bitterness.
Wash the carrot, cut off both ends and slice it into thin strips for mixing into the salad.
For the oyster mushrooms, cut off the stems, soak them in a little diluted salt water for about 5 minutes, then remove and let them drain. Next, tear the oyster mushrooms into bite-sized shreds by hand.
For the gluten, also use a knife to tear it into small strips.
Fresh chili should also be cut into small strips for garnishing the salad.
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Marinate the Gluten
After preparing the gluten, proceed to marinate it with seasonings. In a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of vegetarian seasoning, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and use chopsticks to mix well so the gluten absorbs the seasonings.
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Fry the noodles
Heat a pan on the stove, add about 200ml of cooking oil and wait for the oil to heat up before adding the noodles to fry.
You will fry the noodles for about 10 minutes until they turn golden, then remove them to a bowl to cool.
Note: When marinating the noodles, you should not add sugar because when frying, they can easily burn if you do not monitor the time and keep the heat too high.
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Sauté mushrooms
You put another pan on the stove to prepare to sauté the mushrooms. When the pan is hot, add the oyster mushrooms, using a spatula dipped in a little oil to stir the mushrooms evenly.
Then, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder to the pan and stir well for about 10 minutes so that the mushrooms absorb the spices completely before turning off the heat.
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Prepare the dressing
In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of vegetarian fish sauce, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 1 tablespoon of chili sauce, and mix well to create a dressing for the salad.
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Mix the salad
After frying the vegetarian noodles until golden and letting them cool, you need to separate the noodles to prepare for mixing the salad.
Add 300g of sliced bitter melon, 50g of julienned carrot, 100g of stir-fried oyster mushrooms, and all the vegetarian noodles into a large bowl. Then drizzle the dressing over the mixture to proceed with mixing the salad.
Next, wear gloves and mix thoroughly so that the ingredients absorb the dressing evenly, and add some white sesame seeds to enhance the flavor of the dish.
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Completion
After mixing the salad for about 5 minutes, you will serve it on a plate, adding a few slices of chopped chili to make the dish more appealing and eye-catching, and you can enjoy it right away!
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Final Product
Bitter melon salad with eye-catching colors from various nutritious vegetables along with a light bitterness from bitter melon, and the sweet taste from mushrooms will make it hard for you to resist its charm. This salad will definitely provide you with an unforgettable taste experience. Make it now to invite your family to enjoy!
2. Bitter melon salad with chicken thigh mushrooms
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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty level
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Bitter Melon Salad with Chicken Mushroom Serves 3 people
Chicken mushroom 100 grams Fried tofu 100 grams Bitter melon 200 grams Carrot 50 grams Yellow bell pepper 100 grams Red bell pepper 100 grams Cilantro a little Basil a little Brown sugar 1 tablespoon (for seasoning) Pink salt 1/2 teaspoon (for seasoning) Tree mushroom 150 grams Vegetarian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon Calamansi juice 3 tablespoons (for dressing) Wine sugar 3 tablespoons (for dressing) Vegetarian fish sauce 3 tablespoons (for dressing) Shallot oil 3 tablespoons
Tools Needed
How to Choose and Buy Ingredients
How to choose fresh and good bell peppers
- You should choose bell peppers with a shiny, smooth, thick skin and still have the stem tightly attached to the body.
- Avoid buying bell peppers that are too large, feel soft and mushy when held, have bruises, or are dull in color.
- You should choose bell peppers that are medium-sized, brightly colored, and feel firm when held.
Ingredient Images
How to prepare Bitter Melon Salad with Chicken Mushroom
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Prepare bitter melon and carrot
First, wash the bitter melon thoroughly with water, cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Next, cut it diagonally into slices about 1/3 the thickness of a finger.
Similarly, peel the carrot, then wash it thoroughly with water, trim both ends and cut it into strips for the salad.
Next, place the bitter melon and carrot into a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of pink salt, mix gently and marinate for 20 minutes to reduce the bitterness of the bitter melon. After that, drain the water.
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Prepare other ingredients
Clean the chicken thigh mushrooms thoroughly with water, then soak them in diluted salt water for 3 – 4 minutes, and rinse with water again. Then, cut the mushrooms into bite-sized strips.
For yellow and red bell peppers, wash them several times with water, drain, then cut them in half lengthwise, removing the core and seeds. After that, cut them into long slices about the thickness of a finger.
Fried tofu after bringing it home should also be sliced into thin strips.
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Sauté mushrooms
Place a pan on the stove, sauté 150 grams of mushroom stems with 2 tablespoons of Poaro oil. Stir well, and when the mushrooms are cooked, season with 1/2 teaspoon of vegetarian seasoning.
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Make the dressing
Prepare a clean bowl, then gradually add 3 tablespoons of calamondin juice, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 3 tablespoons of vegetarian fish sauce, stirring well until the sugar completely dissolves.
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Mix the salad
Drain all the water from the bitter melon and carrot. Then, gradually add the prepped ingredients including: 100 grams of yellow bell pepper, 100 grams of red bell pepper, sautéed chicken mushrooms, fried tofu, and 1 tablespoon of scallion oil.
Next, sprinkle a little cilantro and shredded basil, drizzle 4 tablespoons of the dressing, and mix well. Make sure to mix the salad twice for better absorption!
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Final Product
Before enjoying, sprinkle some roasted peanuts on top for better flavor.
The vegetarian bitter melon rolls have an eye-catching color and retain the natural sweetness of the mushrooms, the slight bitterness of the bitter melon, and are combined with a tangy, rich dressing.
Enjoy it with shrimp crackers for a delicious treat that will surely delight your family!
The dish bitter melon salad is crispy and flavorful, making it perfect for summer days with family. With a simple recipe, TasteVN hopes that you will successfully make this dish on your first try! Wishing you success.
*We invite you to check out more delicious vegetarian recipes on our Tiktok channel GREEN VEGETARIAN KITCHEN.
