Crispy Vegetarian Bitter Melon Salad: A Delicious Guide

Vegetarian bitter melon salad is a familiar and popular dish during summer meals for many Vietnamese families. With the distinctive flavor of bitter melon combined with other fresh ingredients, this salad is not only nutritious but also very appealing. Let’s explore how to make crispy and delicious vegetarian bitter melon salad with “Sổ Tay Món Ăn”—you’ll surely want to try it right away!

Ingredients for Vegetarian Bitter Melon Salad

• Bitter melon: 300 grams
• Wheat gluten (Mì căn): 2 pieces
• Oyster mushrooms: 100 grams
• Carrots: 50 grams
• Chili: 1
• Lime juice: 2 tablespoons
• Chili sauce: 1 tablespoon
• Cooking oil: 200 ml
• Vegetarian fish sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Vegetarian seasoning powder: 1 teaspoon
• Sugar: 4 tablespoons

How to Choose Fresh Ingredients

How to Choose Fresh Bitter Melon

• You should choose bitter melons with green skin, not withered or scratched. When gently squeezing the fruit, you should feel a firm and solid texture, not soft or mushy.
• Pay attention to choosing bitter melons with many tiny ridges, as these are naturally grown and not over-treated with chemicals.
• Avoid selecting bitter melons that are too large, dark green, or have glossy skin, as these are often grown using growth stimulants.

How to Choose Fresh Carrots

• You should choose carrots with a bright orange color, smooth skin, not too large in size, firm to the touch, and moderately hard.
• Avoid selecting carrots that show signs of wilting, bruising, are excessively large, or have a distorted shape, as these are old and no longer fresh.

How to Choose Fresh, Safe Oyster Mushrooms

• You should choose oyster mushrooms with thick, firm, and sturdy stems, large caps that are not torn. The mushrooms will be white or grey depending on the type.
• Additionally, prioritize choosing mushrooms that grow in clusters and have a characteristic aroma to ensure the dish’s flavor.
• Avoid selecting wrinkled mushrooms, those with discolored caps compared to their normal color, or those that smell foul.

How to Prepare Vegetarian Bitter Melon Salad

Prepare the Ingredients

• Wash the bitter melon thoroughly, cut off both ends, and halve the fruit. Then, use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and slice it thinly.
• While slicing the bitter melon, prepare a bowl of ice water and add the slices to maintain their crispness and reduce bitterness.
• Wash the carrots, cut off both ends, and julienne them for the salad.
• For oyster mushrooms, cut off the root ends, soak them in a little diluted salt water for about 5 minutes, then drain. Next, tear the oyster mushrooms into bite-sized strips.
• For the wheat gluten (mì căn), also tear it into small strips.
• Wash the fresh chili and cut it into small strips for garnish.

Preparing ingredients for vegetarian bitter melon salad

Marinate Wheat Gluten (Mì căn)

• After preparing the wheat gluten, marinate it. Add 1/2 teaspoon of vegetarian seasoning powder and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to a bowl, then stir well with chopsticks to let the gluten absorb the seasoning.

Marinating wheat gluten for vegetarian bitter melon salad

Fry Wheat Gluten (Mì căn)

• Heat a pan on the stove, add about 200ml of cooking oil, and once the oil is hot, add the wheat gluten to fry.
• Fry the wheat gluten for about 10 minutes until it turns golden, then remove and set aside to cool.
• Note: Do not add sugar when marinating the wheat gluten, as it can easily burn during frying if the cooking time and heat are not carefully managed.

Frying wheat gluten for vegetarian bitter melon salad

Sauté Oyster Mushrooms

• Heat another pan on the stove to sauté the mushrooms. Once the pan is hot, add the oyster mushrooms, dip a spatula in a little oil, and stir-fry the mushrooms evenly.
• Then, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of vegetarian seasoning powder to the pan, and stir well for about 10 minutes until the mushrooms have fully absorbed the seasoning, then turn off the heat.

Prepare the Salad Dressing

• In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of vegetarian fish sauce, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tablespoon of chili sauce, and stir well to create the salad dressing.

Mixing the dressing for vegetarian bitter melon salad

Mix the Salad

• After frying and cooling the wheat gluten, separate the strands to prepare for mixing the salad.
• Add 300g of sliced bitter melon, 50g of julienned carrots, 100g of sautéed oyster mushrooms, and all the fried wheat gluten to a large bowl. Then, pour the dressing over the mixture to begin mixing the salad.
• Next, put on gloves and mix thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Add a little white sesame seeds to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Mixing vegetarian bitter melon salad

Finishing

• After mixing the salad for about 5 minutes, transfer it to a plate, garnish with a few thinly sliced chilies to make the dish more appealing and attractive. It’s now ready to enjoy!

Finished vegetarian bitter melon salad

The Finished Dish

Vegetarian bitter melon salad, with its vibrant colors from various nutritious vegetables, combined with the slight bitterness of bitter melon and the delicate sweetness of mushrooms, will be hard to resist. This salad will surely provide you with an unforgettable taste experience. Make it now for your whole family to enjoy!

The final presentation of vegetarian bitter melon salad

Conclusion

Vegetarian bitter melon salad is an easy-to-make dish, perfect for hot summer days. With detailed instructions and easy-to-find ingredients, you can effortlessly prepare this salad at home. Try it now and share your results with us! If you love other vegetarian salads, check out Onion Salad, Banana Blossom Salad, Green Papaya Salad, Ginseng Leaf Salad, Lotus Root Salad to diversify your family meals.

Wishing you success and bon appétit!