STUFFED BITTER GOURD RECIPE. BITTER GOURD STUFFED WITH FISH RECIPE.

STUFFED BITTER GOURD

For the sake of it’s great health benefits, I tried my best to acquire the taste of bitter gourd. Whenever I cook this, i will say it is not bitter, it only tastes unique. May be one day I will make a salad dish out of the red pith, since it is edible and sweet. Ahaaa what says you.

Ingredients:

3 pieces Spanish mackerel – makes 2 cups ( or red snapper )

5 cm young ginger root

6 pieces shallots

2 tbsp concentrated tamarind juice

1 tbsp sugar and salt to taste

Blend all the above ingredients.

1 cup grated coconut ( preferably not fully ripen yet)

¼  cup minced coriander leaves

¼ cup  minced daun kesum ( you may substitute this with sweet basil leaves)

1 large size bitter gourd

The way to do it

Put  all the blended ingredients, grated coconut and coriander etc in  a bowl and mix well to form a dough.

Slice bitter gourd on an angle, about 2cm cuts and remove pith and seeds. 

Stuff in fish dough. Shape the balance of dough into balls

If you feel that the gourd is too bitter for your taste buds, you may cut it first and soak the cut gourd in salt water for an hour, then rinse, before stuffing in the fish.

This is a vintage recipe where the daun kesum makes a world of difference in taste.

Ingredients for soup

2 tbsp spice soup powder

1 shallot- slice

2 pieces garlic- minced

Salt and pepper

4- 5 cups water (depends on quantity of your gourd slices)

2 tbsp cooking oil.

Saute shallot and garlic until wilted. Add in soup powder. Stir for a few seconds, add in water.

Only when the water boils, add in stuffed bitter gourd. When bitter gourd looks crisp tender, may be about 15 minutes, turn off fire and remove pot from the stove top. This helps maintain color of the gourd.

The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fish per week to help prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

chinese phenotype

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BITTER GOURD

Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon, is low in calories but big on nutrients, with twice as much potassium as a banana and twice the beta-carotene of broccoli. It is the most bitter of all edible fruits.

The fruit is often eaten green. It can also be eaten  ripe and of yellowish color. However, it becomes mushy and more bitter as it ripens.

Unripe seeds and pith appear white, they are removed before cooking. However, the pith will become sweet and turns red when the fruit is fully ripe. The pith can be eaten uncooked in this state and is a popular ingredient in some southeast Asian salads- I have never tried this before.

How to treat asthma with bitter gourd roots. Grind the roots of bitter gourd into a smooth paste. Mix one teaspoon of the paste with one teaspoon of honey or one teaspoon of tulsi (Holy Basil) leaf juice. Drink the solution once every night before bedtime. Continue the process

Medicinal plant project- wiki (Excerpts):

There are many medicinal and health benefits of bitter gourds:

-Help diabetics lower their glucose levels (hypoglycemic effect) and detoxify the body

-To stimulate digestion, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure

-To prevent tumors, balances hormones and enhance immunity

Ivy Gourd

A scene at the supermarket veggie section- Sue said to Susan:

Susan you were the one who introduced me to Ivy Gourd, ooooopss!,
 I mean introduced Ivy Gourd to me..... just a smile for you…..