Bitter Melon with Eggs is a simple and comforting Chinese home-style dish. The natural bitterness of bitter melon pairs beautifully with soft, tender eggs, creating a light and satisfying dish that goes wonderfully with steamed rice.
The key to this recipe is the way the bitter melon is prepared. First, gently massage it with a little salt, then blanch it briefly in hot water and immediately cool it in ice water. After squeezing out as much water as possible, the bitter melon is dry-toasted in a hot pan without oil.
The eggs are then cooked gently, with the bitter melon placed over the partially set eggs before everything is flipped and cooked until tender and lightly golden.
For another stir-fried eggs recipe, try my Egg Stir-fried with Shrimp , Chinese Okra Omelette (Okra & Eggs).
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Bitter Melon with Eggs
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
Steps
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Prepare the bitter melon
Wash the bitter melon. Cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and white pith. Slice thinly.
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Massage with salt
Sprinkle a little salt over the sliced bitter melon and gently massage it with your hands. Let it sit for a few minutes.
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Blanch
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the bitter melon and blanch briefly. Remove immediately.
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Cool in ice water
Transfer the bitter melon to ice water and let it cool briefly. This helps keep the bitter melon crisp.
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Squeeze dry
Drain the bitter melon and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. This step is important for achieving the right texture.
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Dry-toast the bitter melon
Heat a pan over medium heat. Do not add oil. Add the bitter melon and dry-toast it gently until excess moisture has evaporated. Remove and set aside.
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Cook the eggs
Beat the eggs in a bowl. Add a little oil to the pan and pour in the beaten eggs.
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Add the bitter melon
Once the eggs begin to set, arrange the bitter melon over the surface of the eggs. Cook gently over medium-low heat.
Flip and finish cooking
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Once the bottom of the eggs has set, carefully flip the eggs and bitter melon. Continue cooking until the eggs are fully cooked.
Cooking Tips 烹飪技巧
- Transfer the bitter melon to ice water immediately after blanching to help retain its crisp texture.
- Squeezing out excess water is one of the most important steps.
- Dry-toasting the bitter melon without oil helps remove excess moisture and keeps the finished dish dry and crisp.For a milder bitter flavor, slice the bitter melon thinly and blanch it slightly longer.
- Cook the eggs over medium-low heat for a softer, more tender texture.
