Bitter Melon Info

Hi!

Any questions about cooking, juicing, eating, and health properties of Bitter Melon…please feel free to contact me.

If you’re pregnant or are breastfeeding…there’s conflicting info so err on the safe side and take a pass…small amounts should be fine as women eat this all over the world but if it’s new to you, maybe now is not the time to experiment.
http://www.momjunction.com/articles/benefits-of-bitter-gourd-during-pregnancy_00326723/

If you’re diabetic or have hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia…be aware that Bitter Melon can lower your blood sugar levels so monitor so it doesn’t go too low (and just don’t drink or eat too much of it)!!!
Bitter Melon and Diabetes…
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/bitter-melon-diabetes/
Bitter Melon and Prediabetes…
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/bitter-melon-diabetes/

The sheet I had on Bitter Melon at the CSA is from The National Bitter Melon Council…
http://bittermelon.org/eat/cookingbittermelon
It’s kind of a demented website in that none of the recipe links seem to work, and the writing is somewhat off kilter. Not sure if it’s a translation issue with a non-English speaker or what. However, they actually have a section on CSAs!
http://bittermelon.org/grow/csa

Do you have the anti-bitter gene? Some people have a gene that makes tasting bitter foods more intense than other people. These folks also tend to have certain health problems because they naturally avoid eating bitter foods that would be good for them. If you do, try and sneak small amounts of bitter foods into whatever you can, whenever you can! 

General Bitter Melon article with recipe…
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/07/seriously-asian-bitter-melon-stir-fry.html

And Wikipedia always has something to say…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia

Why bother eating Bitter Melon? Here’s some of the health benefits (but read about the contraindications too)…
http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/diabetes/bitter-melon-treat-diabetes-00700/
http://juicing-for-health.com/health-benefits-of-bitter-gourd.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-bitter-melon.html
Bitter Melon and Prostate Cancer…
http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/4/12/2122.full
Bitter Melon and Pancreatic Cancer…
http://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/pancreatic-cancer/bitter-melon-juice-induces-pancreatic-cancer-cell-death/article/308216/
Bitter Melon and Breast Cancer…
http://www.cancerdefeated.com/this-bitter-fruit-is-having-sweet-success-against-cancer/2302/

With any new food…start with a small amount to check it out and take it from there.

Basic prep…
Wash
Don’t need to peel
Cut off the amount you want to cook, and then cut in half to scrape out the pith and seeds with a spoon and discard the pith and seeds (if the seeds are red and you eat them, they are toxic…but you’re not supposed to eat the seeds and pith anyway)
Cut into half moons or whatever shape and size you wish and use in recipe (but I’d say to start, use a SMALL amount of Bitter Melon and a LARGE amount of whatever it says to cook it with – protein, other veg, etc)

Like this video…good basic info whether you’re going to cook this or not…Vietnamese Bitter Melon Soup…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7c6hnOvUA

Bitter Melon and Egg video…use a TINY amount of Bitter Melon to start and a LOT more Eggs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30X12EpYrOI

Simple baked Bitter Melon recipe (this looks really good…use any good Masala Spice mix)…
http://www.indiatimes.com/health/recipes/diabetic-recipes-10-indian-bitter-gourd-recipes-236176-2.html

Japanese vegan Bitter Melon Salad (this looks like a winner)…
http://www.justonecookbook.com/bitter-melon-salad/

Vegan stuffed Bitter Melon recipe (Indian style)…
http://holycowvegan.net/2011/03/stuffed-bitter-melons-karela.html

This stuffed Bitter Melon (with cheese) recipe looks good too but they don’t tell you what to tie up the Bitter Melon with (guess I’d just use basic kitchen twine)…
http://www.indiatimes.com/health/recipes/diabetic-recipes-10-indian-bitter-gourd-recipes-236176-4.html

Bitter Melon with Potatoes and Sauteed Onions…
http://www.indiatimes.com/health/recipes/diabetic-recipes-10-indian-bitter-gourd-recipes-236176-5.html

Juicing Bitter Melon…
Wash it
Don’t need to peel it
Cut off the amount you want to use (start with 1/2” slice), cut it in half and scrape out with a spoon the pith and any seeds and discard the pith and seeds (red seeds are toxic but we’re not supposed to be eating the seeds anyway)
Add the Bitter Melon to your juicing combo (Cucumber/Apple/Lemon/Bitter Melon is a nice one)

If you’re into making juices, try this recipe BUT start with using a ½” piece of Bitter Melon, and then 1” and work your way up to maybe a 2 or 3” piece…in these recipes they say a half a Bitter Melon or a whole one BUT it depends on the size and too much is NOT a good thing…juicing makes it go from culinary to medicinal and too much Bitter Melon juice can lower your blood pressure to the point of it being too low and getting dizzy (one of our CSA members was her own guinea pig and figured this one out)…
http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/in-the-reboot-kitchen-green-bitter-melon-juice/

Bitter Melon juice/smoothie recipe video…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unq-X7kHr6k
Bitter Melon juice info…
http://www.livestrong.com/article/520753-how-to-make-karela-juice/
http://www.chinasichuanfood.com/bitter-melon-juice/

More recipes…

Filipino style (…uses Egg)…
http://simplegoodandtasty.com/2011/05/03/bitter-melon
Basic Bitter Melon and Eggs recipe (I’d use more Eggs than Bitter Melon and start with a 1 or 2” piece with 2 or 3 Eggs and I can’t be bothered with any salting or blanching…thought it will reduce the bitter flavor it’s more time than I want to take and I like the flavor)…
http://www.daydaycook.com/recipe/1/details/1023/Bitter-Melon-Scrambled-Eggs.html
Bitter Melon with scrambled Eggs and Bacon (you can leave out the Bacon and this will still work BUT animal fat is traditional with Chinese and Thai recipes and tones down the bitter flavor)…
http://wishfulchef.com/bitter-melon-eggs/
Bitter Melon and Eggs Thai style…I’d use a 1” piece of Bitter Melon for THREE Eggs to start and I’d cook this recipe backwards…first cook the Bitter Melon (and I’d do it with Onions and Garlic and some Chili Pepper…I like things hot but not hot works too) and when the Bitter Melon was a little soft and browned a bit and then add the Eggs…
http://praneesthaikitchen.com/2011/08/04/stir-fried-bitter-melon-with-egg-recipe/

Chinese style…
http://www.noobcook.com/bittergourd-egg/2/
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/ss/bitter-melon.htm#showall
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/tour/food/chinese-cooking/stir-fried-bittermelon.htm

Indian style…
This one’s a winner too…
http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/karela-sabzi-recipe-punjabi-karela-sabzi/
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/prepare-own-bitter-melon-5034.html
http://indian.food.com/recipe/karela-bitter-melon-or-gourd-55817

Thai style (uses fish sauce)…
http://www.thaitable.com/thai/recipe/stir-fried-bitter-melon

Assorted recipes…
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/tp/Bitter-Melon-Recipes.htm

Freezing Bitter Melon (they don’t tell you how long to blanch them for…not good)…
http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1728706/freezing-bitter-gourd
Blanching time chart…hmmm…no Bitter Melon listed but I’d go with 2 to 3 minutes since it’s like Summer Squash or Peppers. Do basic prep, and cut into half moons and freeze for future use…
http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/blanching.html

To learn how to cook, it’s useful to expand one’s palate by eating out and exploring.

Where to eat Bitter Melon on Long Island…

Thai USA
Huntington
Ask for Bitter Melon as it’s not on the menu but if they have it, they will make a side dish for you with Eggs. I get it with their brown rice (and sometimes I get a side of peanut sauce and drizzle that on because everything tastes better with Thai peanut sauce)

House of Dosas
Hicksville
On the menu it’s called “Healthy Salad” and it’s Bitter Melon

The Orient
Bethpage
Not on the menu – ask for Bitter Melon – they will make it with Black Bean Sauce OR with sliced Pork or Beef (it’s a big portion…you will have leftovers)

Fortune Wheel
Levittown
It’s on one dish on the menu BUT they will also make it as a vegetable dish…I haven’t done that here yet (or tried the one dish that has it on the menu) but I will

If you know of any other places that serve it on Long Island (or in the 5 boroughs), let me know!

Best wishes…suzanne
631-421-4864