Simple and Refreshing Bitter Melon Chicken Soup Recipe to Cool Down for the Family

How to Make Bitter Melon Chicken Soup

• 1

  Prepare and Marinate the Chicken

  Wash the chicken thoroughly, separating the meat from the bones. Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.

  Marinate the meat with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder, and 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate.

  Mix well and let it sit for about 15 minutes to absorb the spices.

  Tips for Cleaning Chicken Without Smell:

  • You should clean the feathers thoroughly, remove the oily gland from the tail, and wash the chicken with a mixture of salt and vinegar.
  • After cleaning the feathers, you can soak the chicken in water for about 20 minutes.
  • You can also clean it by using salt, pepper, crushed ginger, and a little white wine for about 30 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

  See details: How to Remove the Smell of Chicken Before Cooking.

  

  
• 2

  Prepare other ingredients

  Wash the bitter melon, cut off the ends, and slice it in half.

  Then, use a spoon to scrape out all the white flesh and seeds inside to reduce the bitterness of the bitter melon. If you can handle more bitterness, you can leave some of the white flesh inside; otherwise, make sure to clean it thoroughly.

  Next, cut the bitter melon into thin slices that are easy to eat.

  Tips to reduce the bitterness of bitter melon:

  • Soak the sliced bitter melon in salted water with a bit of ice for 15 minutes to reduce its bitterness and make it crisper.
  • After that, remove the bitter melon, rinse it well with water to ensure it doesn’t absorb the salt, so it will not be very bitter anymore.

  Sliced shallots. Wash the cilantro and green onions, and cut them into bite-sized pieces.

  

  

  

  
• 3

  Sauté chicken bones and cook chicken broth

  Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and heat it up. Then add the shallots and sauté until fragrant.

  Add the chicken bones and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add 1/3 tablespoon of fish sauce.

  After the chicken bones have slightly changed color and are cooked, add about 1 bowl of water and bring to a boil.

  Reduce the heat and simmer the broth for 1 hour. Remember to skim off the foam regularly to keep the broth clear.

  

  
• 4

  Cook the soup

  After 1 hour, remove the bones.

  Then add the chicken, cook for 3 – 5 minutes until the meat is cooked. Continue to add the bitter melon and cook for another 2 minutes until the bitter melon is done. Add green onions and cilantro, turn off the heat. Adjust seasoning to taste for the family and serve.

  

  
• 5

  Final product

  The bitter melon chicken soup is not very bitter and is extremely refreshing for hot days. The tender chicken meat combined with the bitterness of the bitter melon creates a soup that is not only delicious but also nutritious.