Bitter Gourd, One of My Most Liked Vegetable
@SIMPLYD (90717)
Philippines
February 8, 2017 3:08am CST
Bitter gourd or ampalaya as we call it in Tagalog , can be bitter tasting as the name itself , connotes.
And I bet, only a few people like it for a dish.
Though, it is said that in order that a bitter gourd will not be bitter tasting , we have to choose a big bitter gourd whose bark has those big vein- like structure like that in the picture I took from google.
Then what I would do when I am cooking bitter gourd is to submerge the slices of bitter gourd in a bowl of water with lots of salt first . After about 15 minutes, you throw the water out and wash it, then you can now put it when the meat and other ingredients are cooked already. Just cook it quickly so, it will be crisp and not bitter to eat when cooked.
I like it cooked in salted beans or in oyster sauce with some slices of beef, or simply just sautéed in sliced tomatoes and with beaten egg,
Hubby like it made into a salad, with some drops of lemon , soy sauce, slices of tomatoes and onions, though I don’t like it like that.
So guys, do you also like a dish with a bitter gourd?
Note: Picture is from google for the sake of those people who doesn't know what bitter gourd is
31 people like this
36 responses
@allknowing (153529)
• India
8 Feb 17
We have a special masala that we use when we make bitter gourd. It is sliced and then marinated in salt to remove the bitterness. We use plenty of jaggery too.
6 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
8 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD It is sweet and available in chunks. Made from sugarcane juice.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
8 Feb 17
I have tried bitter gourd and I am not a fan. It is too bitter for my liking and I have tried it cooked many styles, in soups, etc - I can't but it is super healthy for you!
4 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
9 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD I sometimes try to take a sip of the soup but it very bitter
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@infatuatedbby Oh , i guess i will not like it. 
2 people like this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
8 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD I do like them.But not in salads or with meat.I like fried or stirfried Bitter gourd.
4 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@silvermist Thank you for that link. I will try it when I have the time.
2 people like this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
8 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD You can make them without jaggery too.In fact we have plenty of recipes for it.You can try this.
Pavakka mezhukkupuratti/Bitter Gourd stir fry is a popular Kerala special side dish that goes well with plain boiled rice and curry. Do wash the bitter gourd...
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
8 Feb 17
We cut the bitter gourd and fill it with some fillings and spices and these are then fried for eaten. I love to consume bitter guard this way. We do not take it in salad or with non vegetarian food.
The beauty of fried pieces of bitter gourd is that you could eat it till 3-4 days without any problem.
3 people like this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
9 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD Here is link describing the recipe for the stuffed bitter gourd dish. At the end of the recipe, step by step recipe and list of ingredients are given. You could check it from the given link:
bharwan karela step by step recipe with photos. posting yet another classic indian recipe - bharwan karela or stuffed bitter gourd. karela is one veggie which is not liked by many.
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@dpk262006 Thank you. I have actually read the recipe. However , some ingredients aren't iavailable here in the Philippines.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49775)
• India
8 Feb 17
I like Bitter Gourd, bitter or otherwise. My wife makes it with potatoes so that kids can relish the taste. In India, we use dry mango powder(amchoor) to enhance its taste, and with onions, its taste gets even further enhanced.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
Wow, good for you. 
So we can also cook it with potatoes! Can you please share to me the recipe? I would like to try as many recipes of bitter gourd because I love this veggie, not only for the health benefits but for the taste after it is cooked. 
So we can also cook it with potatoes! Can you please share to me the recipe? I would like to try as many recipes of bitter gourd because I love this veggie, not only for the health benefits but for the taste after it is cooked. 1 person likes this
@smileyhema (4463)
• United States
8 Feb 17
Yeah .. I like bitter guard too. We won't overcook with it though .. just take a pan and put the chopped bitter guard.. sprinkle water .. allow it to boil .. once we know that it's fairly cooked we will add turmeric plus chilly powder plus salt and then mix it well .. we will have this mixture with rice or chapathi .. would be good .. :-)
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@smileyhema There is a certain taste though in turmeric that I don't like. I prefer ginger instead.
1 person likes this
@smileyhema (4463)
• United States
8 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD - that's true. We add turmeric powder to most of our South Indian dishes. It's for giving a good colour to your dish plus it's germ- killer.
2 people like this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
8 Feb 17
And don't forget to smile when you put the bitter gourd when cooking. Hahaha Does that apply to the fruit or the leaves only? Hahahahah!
I love bitter gourd. We don't soak it in salt water before cooking. We love its bitter taste.
I also love the pickled bitter gourd my mother prepares. =) But she makes use of the small variety of bitter gourd. She soaks the raw ampalaya fruit in vinegar with salt, pepper, garlic and onion. Mmmmm! That's yummy!
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
Ha ha ha I guess , that is an added way of not making it bitter when cooked- smiling!
SO you love its bitter taste! I don't, I like it cooked so the bitterness can be camouflaged. Though , I like some bitterness of course mixed with the saltiness of the salted black beans. 
Oh can you please share wirth me your mother's recipe of the pickled bitter gourd or ampalaya. I like to have lots of recipes of bitter gourd.
SO you love its bitter taste! I don't, I like it cooked so the bitterness can be camouflaged. Though , I like some bitterness of course mixed with the saltiness of the salted black beans.
Oh can you please share wirth me your mother's recipe of the pickled bitter gourd or ampalaya. I like to have lots of recipes of bitter gourd.1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@brokenbee So after washing it with vinegar, that's it, you mix it with the pickle mixture.
I have read that actually small bitter gourd doesn't taste that bitter yet.
Doesn't the bitter gourd tastes bitter pickled like that?
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD I am not sure if I had shared it here before or in Bubblews. Hihihi
But it is just too simple. You just need to choose the right variety of bitter gourd. Those are the small ones like the size of a regular tomato and they are a bit round.
Just cut it into two and then wash with vinegar, not water.
Then on a jar, mix vinegar, garlic, pepper, small onions, and salt. Put the bitter gourds and soak for how many days. Actually you can eat it after a day.
I love bitter gourd. I don't like the taste of salted black beans (tausi). Hihihi
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
8 Feb 17
Bitter gourd is nutritious! Now I need to eat it more as they say it is good in controlling blood sugar.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
Yes, that's what I always heard of as one of its healthy benefits. My father is a diabetic, so he and my mother loves just steaming the young leaves , then put some baggoong, sliced tomatoes and some drops of lemon. I actually love it also. Whenever I visit them , I request my mother to make some.
1 person likes this
@amandajay (23262)
• New Zealand
8 Feb 17
Omg... Even me like this very much.. If you dont like the salad try it with fried bitter gourd...
We call it "Karawila"
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
@amandajay Oh , so it's another way of making a bitter gourd salad. This time you fry the bitter gourd first. I will try this.
1 person likes this
@amandajay (23262)
• New Zealand
9 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD yes... Its a good remedy for diabetes... Hehe
Its like this....
Cut it to thin slices. Keep it for about 5 minutes in salted water. Dry it well and deep fry... Take it out when golden brown. Dont fry much....
Chop onions, tomatoes, green chillies mix with fried bitter gourd.. Add little salt, pinch of pepper, and lime juice as per taste... Salad done....
Try it you will love it
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
Indeed it has many . Actually, some mothers would make a bitter gourd juice and let their babies drink it to make them have a strong immune system.
Should you want to read about their health benefits, here's a link that can inform you.
It's young leaves is very good in sauteed mung beans.
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) notably contains phytonutrient, polypeptide-P, one of the plant insulin known to lower blood sugar levels. It is one of the very low-calorie vegetables that chiefly features in Okinawa diet. Read on.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)
• China
8 Feb 17
I like eating bitter gourd very much.It has cool nature according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.Here on Mylot I have a post about it.
Balsam pear is the fruit of balsam pear of the Gourd Family.Its latin name is Momordica charantia L.It contains charantin,5-HT and many species of amino...
3 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
8 Feb 17
I've research it's vitamin content, not much except with fiber. and I really hate the taste.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
That is true. When I was just a child, I hate bitter gourd.
But now when I was already matured. I think that's because the bitter taste bud has developed already too.
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
8 Feb 17
I like eating bitter gourd too. Cooked two different types. I liked both styles.
...........and hey you changed your profile picture.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
9 Feb 17
Oh those are another types of cooking it. I am interested to try these recipes. Do they have that in the search engine?
So, it's just now that you have seen my new profile picture. It means you haven't beem here for a while.
I am happy to see you here again.
I am happy to see you here again. 1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
10 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD I was gone for the month of December and better part of January too. I only came back in the January end. Still trying to get back to all the members I used to interact with. Plenty to catch up!
And yes both the recipes can be found on internet and YouTube even. You can look for Chef Sanjeev Kapoor for the recipes.
How to make Stuffed Karela -Bitter gourd stuffed with fresh indian spices.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
10 Feb 17
@SIMPLYD ........ this one too. Bitter Gourd is called "Karela" in Hindi language
how to make Karele ki Sabzi-Just taste bitter gourd cooked this way and you will forget that they are bitter.
1 person likes this
