percypat Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I've given myself a challenge to find and eat a new vegetable every week. Last week it was patty pan squash and purple carrots, this week I've got some okinawan sweet potatoes (all pretty and purple inside!). I think I have found contenders for the next couple of weeks - choko and bitter melon. I think the choko will be ok as it sounds like quite a mild, neutral sort of vegetable but the bitter melon looks scary! Have been looking for recipes, but the nicer stir fry ones call for coconut aminos which I can't find here, and I'm a bit worried about adapting flavours when the flavour of the melon itself is so distinct. Any suggestions? (Even for the choko - always open to ideas!). Was just reading up on bitter melon and it sounds SO good for you. Keen to add it to our growing repertoire, just not sure what to do with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzard77 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 My husband is from south India and we eat bitter melon often when we visit. He doesn't much care for it so I don't cook it home except a few times a year. The following recipe is from his family, we used to eat them over rice but I bet it would be delicious over cauli-rice. 4 to 5 bitter melons ¼ cup of very diluted tamarind water ½ teaspoon salt (maybe 1 teas. if melons are big) ½ teaspoon turmeric ½ tsp each. Slice the melons crosswise about 1/8 inch in thickness. Toss it with the tamarind water, salt and turmeric, and cook it until just tender. Let it cool. Oil a plastic sheet or aluminum trays and spread the circles out to dry for a couple of days. Then fry them in oil and enjoy. If you have some indian style spices on hand like, black mustard seeds or asafoetida I can send you a few more recipes. What ever you end up making, it is really best to salt and simmer the gourd for a bit to reduce the bitter flavor. It can take your breath away if you are not used to it. I would love to hear what you end up making! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 Thank you so much! I'll be sure to report back - should be picking some up Friday morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzard77 Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Hey, did you ever pick up the bitter melon and experiment? I bought some this weekend and am going to try this recipe (minus brown sugar). It looks pretty interesting and would only need a little supplementing to make it a full meal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 I got chokos (chayote) this week ... It seemed a bit less scary than the bitter melon! But I will definitely get there. That recipe looks awesome! Maybe I'll try that for my virgin attempt Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzard77 Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I'm going to try it this week, I'll let you know how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 That'd be great! If it's a winner I'll definitely pick some up on Friday morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 Did you try that recipe Liz? I bought bitter melon this morning so will be having a crack at it in the next few days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarpie581 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 My mom makes bitter melon at home all the time! It tastes delicious...... It is hard to get that bitter bite out of it though. Let me know if your recipe worked out... I'm gonna see if my mom can email me what she does (magic?) to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzard77 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 No, I went to cook it on Thursday and had left it too long I guess, it was beginning to go moldy. I really want to make the recipe though, it looks so fabulous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 Well I never got there either Cooked mine tonight and did a loose version of this: http://kirantarun.com/food/2012/08/24/oven-crisped-bitter-gourd-kerala/ Basically baked bitter melon "chips". Jury is out on this one. Husband thought it was disgusting. I found the bitterness offputting, yet went back for a couple more. I think it's the kind of thing I can eat a little bit of, but not much and not often. I've still got the best part of an oven tray full so I'm going to let them dry off a bit more and give them a good grind of salt and have a couple with my meals over the next couple of days. Glad I tried it out anyway! If you do get around to the stuffed recipe, let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 My mom makes bitter melon at home all the time! It tastes delicious...... It is hard to get that bitter bite out of it though. Let me know if your recipe worked out... I'm gonna see if my mom can email me what she does (magic?) to it! ___________________________________ Yarpie581, yes please! Would be super keen to hear what magic she does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percypat Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 Oh, and the choko/chayote worked out really well. Cooked them in a tomato sauce (onion, garlic, crushed toms, lemon juice and veggie stock) and they were nice! So mild tasting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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