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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Bitter melon soup with squid is delicious, rich in flavor, with the natural sweetness of squid and bitter melon, bringing a refreshing and unique taste to the diners. Let’s get cooking with TasteVN and learn how to make this soup!
Ingredients for Bitter Melon Soup with Squid Serves 4
Squid 200 gr Bitter melon 2 pieces Shallots 2 bulbs Spring onions/coriander A little Fish sauce 1 teaspoon Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Common spices A little (Salt/ seasoning powder/ monosodium glutamate/ ground pepper)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh squid
- You should choose squid that is shiny, with clear eyes, not yellow or leaking, and the body should be opaque white like milk.
- Good squid will have the head and tentacles tightly attached, with firm, elastic flesh.
- Do not choose squid that is yellow, leaking, or has cloudy eyes.
- Absolutely do not buy squid with soft, mushy flesh that easily separates, as these will not be fresh.
How to choose fresh and delicious loofah
- You should choose loofah fruits with a green stem that exudes sap, the skin should not have dark blemishes, and should have clear, smooth, and even stripes.
- Delicious loofah fruits will be of medium size, have a moderately thick skin, smooth, and feel heavy in hand. When pressing the tip of the fruit, it should feel firm and have good elasticity.
- Do not choose loofah fruits that feel light when picked up, as these are hollow and spongy, hence not tasty.
- Fruits with withered stems, dark spots, rough skin, or soft and mushy texture are not fresh and should not be purchased.
How to prepare Loofah Soup with Squid
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Prepare the ingredients
Take the squid, remove the innards, wash thoroughly, and let it drain. Once the squid is drained, marinate it with 1 teaspoon of fish sauce for about 10 minutes.
Peel the loofah, wash it, and cut it into short pieces suitable for eating, about the thickness of one finger joint.
Wash the shallots, then mince them finely.
Remove any damaged or bruised parts from the green onions and cilantro. Then wash and chop them finely.
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Cook the soup
You place a pot on the stove, then add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and heat over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add finely chopped shallots to sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the marinated squid and stir-fry briefly. When the squid is firm, add about 1 liter of water and season with 1 teaspoon of salt.
When the water boils, add the gourd and season with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of ground pepper, and 1/3 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, then cover and boil for about 3 – 5 minutes. You can adjust the seasoning according to your taste.
Finally, add all the chopped green onions and coriander to the pot and let it sit for about 30 seconds before turning off the heat.
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Final product
Now you have completed the delicious, hot, and refreshing gourd soup with squid for the whole family. The perfect combination of the sweet and rich flavor of the squid, the sweet and mild taste along with the fragrance of the gourd will definitely make you fall in love.
With just a few simple steps, we have a delicious sponge gourd soup with squid for the whole family to enjoy. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started right away. Wishing you success in making this dish!
