search icon

Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry

EASY7 INGREDIENTS4STEP20 MIN·
Posted: 01/02/2025
Lonnie
BY Lonnie
Posted: 01/02/2025

Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry play icon

This is a simple recipe that you can easily make on a busy weekday night. No need to thaw any ingredients or use complicated foods. The taste is very perfect.

2
SERVINGS
7
INGREDIENTS
4
STEP
20 min
TOTAL TIME

What is Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry?

Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry is a very classic home-cooked dish. It is made by stir-frying Bitter melon and eggs as the main raw materials. The method is very simple.

The soul of this dish is Bitter melon. Bitter melon has a crisp texture and a unique bitter taste. It has a certain effect of clearing heat and reducing fire. 

When paired with eggs, eggs can not only help neutralize the bitterness of Bitter melon but also increase the nutrition of the whole dish.

Why is Bitter melon bitter?

The reason why Bitter melon is bitter is because Bitter melon contains a compound called momordicine (Momordica charantia). This momordicine is an alkaloid. It has a bitter taste and is the main source of bitterness in Bitter melon.

Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry Recipe

In addition to momordicine, Bitter melon also contains some other bioactive substances, such as triterpenoids and polyphenols. These substances may also contribute to the bitterness of Bitter melon.

The bitterness of Bitter melon will vary in different varieties and maturities of Bitter melon. Generally speaking, the bitterness of more mature Bitter melon will be relatively lighter. In addition, the bitterness of Bitter melon is also related to its health benefits. Momordicine has effects such as lowering blood sugar, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

Although the bitterness of Bitter melon may not be liked by everyone, it is undeniable that Bitter melon is a healthy food and its bitterness can be reduced by cooking methods such as salting, blanching or cooking with other ingredients.

Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

Main ingredients

Bitter melon: The main ingredient of Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry, providing a unique bitter taste and crisp texture.

Eggs: One of the main ingredients, providing a soft and tender texture and rich protein.

Additional ingredients

Green onions: Have a special aroma and add aroma and layering to the dish.

Seasonings

Salt: Basic seasoning for balancing the taste of the dish.

Pepper: Provides a spicy taste and adds an additional flavor layer to the dish.

Sesame oil: Has a special fragrance and brings a rich aroma to the dish.

Cooking oil: Used for stir-frying ingredients.

Substitutions:

Sesame oil: Can be replaced by olive oil or other vegetable oils.

Pepper: Can be replaced by pepper powder or five-spice powder.

What are the benefits of Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry?

Lowering blood sugar:

Bitter melon contains a large amount of various alkaloids and flavonoids. It is known as a "natural blood sugar-lowering agent". When consumed in moderation in life, it can help effectively lower blood sugar levels.

Enhancing immunity:

Bitter melon is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Eating in moderation can enhance the human immunity and help prevent diseases such as colds and cancer.

Promoting digestion:

Bitter melon is rich in cellulose and pectin, which can promote intestinal peristalsis and relieve constipation.

Balanced nutrition:

Eggs are high in protein and low in fat. They contain rich nutrients such as vitamin A, D, iron, zinc, etc., which help maintain good health and balanced nutrition.

Tips for Success

Choose fresh ingredients:

To make Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry, choose fresh ingredients. For Bitter melon, choose bright green ones. Fresh Bitter melon not only has a more crisp texture but also has higher edible value.

For eggs, choose those within the expiration date. Try to choose refrigerated eggs to ensure freshness and food safety.

Seasoning egg liquid:

After beating the eggs, you can add some seasonings such as salt, pepper and sesame oil in advance to season. This can make the eggs more fragrant and taste better when stir-fried.

Mastering heat:

The heat control for making Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry is very important. First, when stir-frying eggs, it is recommended to stir-fry slowly over low heat to ensure that the eggs are tender and not scattered. When stir-frying Bitter melon, stir-fry quickly over high heat to maintain its bright green color and not lose nutrition.

Seasoning in time:

Put Bitter melon and salt into the pot at the same time. This can quickly make it tasteful. Then add the scrambled eggs and quickly stir-fry a few times and then take it out of the pot. Ensure that the dish is refreshing and not greasy. The amount of salt can be adjusted according to personal taste.

INGREDIENTS

Main Ingredients

  • ·
    1 bitter melon
  • ·
    4 eggs

Accessories

  • ·
    10g green onions

Seasonings

  • ·
    9g salt
  • ·
    A little pepper
  • ·
    5g sesame oil
  • ·
    30ml cooking oil

Hey, I'm Lonnie. I specialize in Chinese cuisine, with expertise in the flavors of Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Hunan. I'm here to share my recipe insights and take you on a journey to discover the charm of Chinese culinary delights.

COOKING STEP

HIDE IMAGES

Step 1

Preprocessing ingredients:

Cut 1 Bitter melon lengthwise, remove the seeds and then cut into thin slices. Cut 10 grams of green onions into Green onions for later use.

Prepare a bowl, beat 4 eggs, add 3 grams of salt, a little pepper and 5 grams of sesame oil, and beat well to form egg liquid for later use.

Preprocessing ingredients

Step 2

Stir-frying eggs:

Heat the pan, pour 15 milliliters of oil. After the oil is hot, pour in the beaten egg liquid. Keep it on low heat and stir the egg liquid until it solidifies into tender pieces. Take it out and set it aside.

Stir-frying eggs

Step 3

Stir-frying Bitter melon:

Heat the pan again. Pour 15 milliliters of oil. After the oil is hot, first put in Green onions and stir-fry until fragrant. Then put in the sliced Bitter melon and continue to stir-fry to make the Bitter melon evenly heated until the color of the Bitter melon becomes darker and slightly soft.

Stir-frying Bitter melon

Step 4

Mix, season and take out of the pot:

Add 6 grams of salt, continue to stir-fry to make the Bitter melon tasteful. Then pour in the previously scrambled eggs and sprinkle an appropriate amount of Green onions. Quickly stir-fry evenly to ensure that the taste of eggs and Bitter melon is fused. Then take it out and plate it.

Mix, season and take out of the pot

More delicious home-cooked dishes worth trying

Chinese Black Pepper Beef

Pineapple Sweet and Sour Tofu

Fatty Beef with Enoki Mushrooms

Sweet and Sour Pork with Juicy Pineapple Recipe

Serving Suggestions

Recommended combinations

Rice: Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry go well with white rice. Soft and tender rice can help neutralize the slight bitterness of Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry. It's extremely delicious with rice.

Steamed buns: Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry can also be paired with steamed buns. Steamed buns can absorb the soup of Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry. When eating, there is both the wheat fragrance of steamed buns and the deliciousness of dishes.

Tomato and egg soup: Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry can also be eaten with tomato and egg soup, which can help balance the bitterness of Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry.

Serving suggestions

Eat in moderation: Although Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry are delicious, it is not recommended to eat too much to avoid increasing the burden on your own gastrointestinal tract.

Eat while it's hot: Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry taste very good. It is recommended to eat while it's hot. The taste and nutritional value are the best when it's warm. You can taste the original taste of Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry, and the nutritional components will not be lost due to being too hot or too cold.

FAQs:

Q
What if the Bitter melon is too bitter?
A
Bitter melon itself has a certain degree of bitterness. The degree of bitterness of Bitter melon will be affected by factors such as the variety and growing environment of Bitter melon. At the same time, if Bitter melon is not processed properly, the bitterness will be relatively heavy.
Therefore, when choosing Bitter melon, it is best to choose a variety that is not too bitter. At the same time, when cutting Bitter melon, you can marinate it with salt for 10 - 15 minutes. Then pour out the oozing bitter juice and rinse it with clean water. This can effectively reduce the bitterness.
Q
What if the eggs are overcooked?
A
Eggs themselves have a tender and smooth taste. If the eggs are overcooked, it may be because the heat is too high or the stirring is not timely when scrambling eggs. The egg liquid is easy to solidify and become old quickly.
It is recommended to use low heat when scrambling eggs. And after pouring in the egg liquid, use chopsticks or a spatula to gently stir immediately to let the egg liquid solidify slowly. In this way, the scrambled eggs taste soft and tender.
Q
A
Uneven distribution of seasonings for Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry may cause some Bitter melon to be too salty or some to be too light.
During the stir-frying process, stir in time to ensure that the seasonings are evenly distributed on Bitter melon and eggs. You can stir-fry Bitter melon until half-cooked first, and then add the seasoned eggs. In this way, the seasoning is more evenly distributed.
Q
What if Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry stick to the pan?
A
If Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry stick to the pan when stir-frying, it may be caused by the pan not being heated enough or not enough oil being put.
Therefore, before scrambling eggs or stir-frying Bitter melon, heat the pan fully first, and then pour in an appropriate amount of oil to make the oil evenly cover the bottom of the pan. This can effectively prevent sticking.
2

REVIEWS

Your Rating:
George
George January 03, 2025

This Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry is absolutely delicious! The bitterness of the melon perfectly complements the smoothness of the eggs, making it both healthy and comforting. The simple seasoning highlights the flavors of each ingredient wonderfully. Highly recommend for those looking to try something new!
Alexander
Alexander January 04, 2025

I've been on the lookout for a healthy and tasty bitter melon recipe, and this Bitter Melon and Egg Stir Fry meets all my expectations. The slight bitterness of the melon complements the tender eggs perfectly, making it a refreshing dish for summer. It's a great home-cooked meal.

YOU'LL ALSO LOVE