Delicious and Nutritious Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup Recipe for Family Meals

Stuffed bitter melon soup is a traditional Vietnamese dish, not only offering a refreshing taste but also carrying deep significance during the Lunar New Year. With a simple method and easy-to-find ingredients, you can prepare this soup to treat your family. Let’s explore the detailed recipe right away!

Ingredients Needed

To cook a delicious stuffed bitter melon soup, you will need the following ingredients:

• Bitter melon: 3 pieces (choose young ones to reduce bitterness)
• Ground meat: 200g (preferably a mix of lean and fatty pork for a richer filling)
• Wood ear mushrooms: 50g (soaked and finely chopped)
• Chicken or pork broth: 800ml
• Duck egg: 1
• Garlic: 2 cloves (minced)
• Shallot: 1 (finely chopped)
• Scallions and cilantro: a small amount (chopped for garnish)
• Seasonings: sugar, salt, seasoning powder, ground pepper

Ingredients for stuffed bitter melon soup

Steps to Follow

Preparing the Ingredients

The first step in making stuffed bitter melon soup is to prepare the ingredients thoroughly and cleanly.

• Wash the bitter melon under cold running water, cut it in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out the inner seeds. This part causes the characteristic bitterness of the bitter melon.
• Soak the bitter melon in ice water for about 10-15 minutes to reduce bitterness. Then, drain and let it dry.
• Soak the wood ear mushrooms in warm water until soft, rinse, and remove the stems. Finely chop the mushrooms into thin strips.
• Mince the garlic and shallot. Wash and finely chop the scallions and cilantro for garnish.

Seasoning the Filling and Stuffing the Bitter Melon

Next, we mix the filling ingredients and stuff them into the bitter melon.

• Mix the ground meat with the wood ear mushrooms, duck egg, minced garlic, chopped shallot, and seasonings including: 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1 teaspoon of ground pepper. Mix well and let the mixture rest for about 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• Take a suitable amount of the filling and gently stuff it into each piece of bitter melon. Pack it tightly to prevent the filling from falling out during cooking.

Stuffing the bitter melon with filling

Cooking the Soup

After preparing the stuffed bitter melon, we start cooking the soup.

• Pour 800ml of chicken or pork broth into a pot, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, gently place the stuffed bitter melon into the pot.
• Adjust the seasoning with about 2 teaspoons of seasoning powder (adjust to taste). Lower the heat and simmer for about 40 minutes until the bitter melon is tender.
• Turn off the heat, ladle the soup into bowls, and sprinkle with scallions, cilantro, and a bit of ground pepper for added flavor. Let the soup cool slightly before serving to reduce bitterness.

Finished stuffed bitter melon soup

Tips for Cooking Non-Bitter Bitter Melon Soup

If you’re concerned about the bitterness of the bitter melon, try these tips:

• Thoroughly scrape out the white inner part of the bitter melon as it is the main cause of bitterness.
• Soak the bitter melon in ice water or cold water after prepping to reduce bitterness.
• Rinse the bitter melon multiple times under cold running water before cooking.
• Choose young bitter melons to minimize natural bitterness.
• Avoid using sugar to season the soup as it can enhance the bitterness.

How to Store Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup

To keep the stuffed bitter melon soup fresh and safe, consider these storage tips:

• Season the soup with salt instead of fish sauce to prevent it from turning sour.
• Do not cover the pot tightly immediately after cooking; let the soup cool down before storing.
• Only take out the amount of soup you need for each meal, avoiding returning leftovers to the pot.
• Reheat the soup twice a day to limit bacterial growth.

Proper storage of stuffed bitter melon soup

Conclusion

With the detailed instructions above, you now know how to make delicious, nutritious, and less bitter stuffed bitter melon soup. This dish is not only good for health but also symbolizes good luck in Vietnamese culture. Try this recipe to create a warm family meal!

Don’t forget to visit your nearest supermarket to select fresh and quality ingredients. Wishing you success with your flavorful stuffed bitter melon soup!