Growing up with Cantonese-style home cooking, bitter melon is one of those vegetables that brings a very familiar taste to the dinner table. Its gentle bitterness becomes much more balanced when cooked with eggs, creating a simple and comforting combination.
This White Bitter Melon with Eggs is an easy everyday dish that doesn’t require many ingredients. The white bitter melon has a milder flavour and a crisp texture, while the eggs add richness and softness.
Serve it with a bowl of steamed rice for a simple Cantonese family meal.
For another stir-fried eggs recipe, try my Egg Stir-fried with Shrimp , Chinese Okra Omelette (Okra & Eggs).
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White Bitter Melon with Eggs
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
Steps
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Prepare the white bitter melon
Wash the bitter melon. Cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and white pith. Slice the white bitter melon thinly.
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Reduce the bitterness
Sprinkle a little salt over the sliced bitter melon and gently massage it with your hands. Add water and 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 white 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 and add the bitter melon
Beat the eggs in a bowl. Add a little oil to the pan and pour in the beaten eggs.
Once the eggs begin to set, arrange the white 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.
