Stir fried bitter melon with eggs requires only five ingredients and a few minutes to put together. It’s a comforting dish that’s full of nutrition and a great way to add a side dish to complete your meal. {Vegetarian, Gluten-Free}
Bitter melon with eggs is one of my favorite homestyle dishes. I didn’t like bitter melon when I was a kid, due to its bitter taste. But I grew to like the taste as I grew up, just like I started to like the bitterness of coffee. When I just started working, my mom would always pack lunch for me. Bitter melon with eggs was always on the weekly rotation because it took no time to put together and I just love to eat it with rice.
I’ve shared bitter melon with beef and bitter melon with black bean sauce in the past. Both use a richer seasoning to help counterbalance the bitter taste of the melon. Check them out, too, if you’re new to bitter melon.
It’s easy to grow bitter melon!
During the brief two years we lived in Beacon, NY, we had a backyard where I grew produce in the summer. We didn’t have fences and our yard was a favorite of the local wild creatures, so most of the time my produce would be eaten by deer, groundhogs, and rabbits. The only thing that was always left untouched was bitter melon. I joked to my husband that it was so bitter that even woodland creatures didn’t want it.
But I do like home grown bitter melon because it’s so easy to grow and it tastes better than store-bought. You can literally throw the seeds into the dirt and water it only when it gets too dry. There’s very little you need to do for it to grow.
I prefer to pick homegrown bitter melon when it’s still young, so it has a tenderer texture and less bitterness.
Benefit of bitter melon
Bitter melon is packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate, and high in fiber. It’s good for your skin and supports your immune system. It can help reduce blood sugar and decrease cholesterol levels. It also helps prevent iron deficiency and anemia.
It’s one of the ingredients that are often used in TCM due to its many benefits. And it’s loved by new moms during postpartum care to help them recover.
Bitter melon with egg ingredients
How to prepare bitter melon
- Cut the bitter melon in half lengthwise
- Use a small sharp spoon to scoop out the seeds
- Slice the bitter melon into thin pieces
Mise en place
You only need a few ingredients to make bitter melon with eggs:
- Beaten eggs
- Green onion
- Bitter melon
- Salt
I prefer to keep the seasoning very simple for this one, because the tender eggs work so well with the crisp bitter melon. A pinch of salt is enough to season the dish.
How to cook bitter melon with eggs
Blanch the bitter melon (or not?)
I highly recommend blanching the bitter melon prior cooking if you’re new to bitter melon or do not like a strong bitter taste. Blanching helps reduce both the bitterness and the stir frying time.
Personally, I skip the blanching most of the time because I do not mind the bitterness and I prefer to speed up my cooking. It also matters less if you use young bitter melon when it’s in season.
Stir fry process
- Scramble the eggs
- Saute the green onion
- Cook the bitter melon with salt
- Add back the eggs and mix everything together
That’s it!
It gives you a fresh and hearty tasting side dish that will add nutrition and color to your meal.
How to serve bitter melon with eggs
Bitter melon with eggs is one of my favorite sides because it takes no time to put together. I like to serve it with braised dishes and stews, to balance out my meals. For example, Instant Pot Curry Beef Stew, Hong Shao Rou (Red Braised Pork), Braised Pork Ribs, and Braised Chicken with Mushrooms.
Other easy side dishes
- Stir-fried Cauliflower with Tomato Sauce
- Vegetable Fried Rice
- Air Fryer Chinese Eggplant
- Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans
- Bok Choy and Mushroom Stir Fry
5-Ingredient Bitter Melon with Eggs
Ingredients
- 2 (total 1 lb / 450 g) bitter melons , seeds removed and sliced to 1/4” (5 mm) thick pieces
- 3 eggs , beaten with a pinch of salt
- 1 green onion , sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil
Instructions
- (Optional) Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the bitter melon. Blanch for 30 seconds. Drain immediately and rinse the bitter melon with cold tap water to stop cooking. Drain thoroughly again and pat dry with paper towels. (*Footnote 1)
- Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in a medium-sized skillet and heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add the beaten egg. Lightly scramble and cook until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and the green onion. Stir a few times to release the fragrance.
- Add the bitter melon and sprinkle with the salt. Stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until starting to soften. Taste the bitter melon. If it’s still very tough, add a splash of water and cover the pan for 1 minute to steam it.
- Add back the cooked eggs. Cook and stir to mix well. Transfer everything to a plate and serve as a side.
Notes
- It’s important to blanch the bitter melon if you’re using full-grown bitter melon or prefer a less bitter taste. When bitter melon is in season, or if you’re using homegrown bitter melon, it will have a tenderer and crisper texture with less bitter taste. In this case, it’s OK to skip the blanching process.
