Brilio.net - The bitter sensation that dances on the tongue, that is the characteristic of the bitter melon which still has a special place in the hearts of its connoisseurs. Although many frown when they hear its name, some people actually fall in love with the hidden deliciousness of this green vegetable. With a magical touch in the kitchen, bitter melon can be transformed into a dish that makes the tongue wag and the stomach growl.
From home dining tables to trendy restaurants, bitter melon appears in various tempting forms. It can be a delicious stir-fry that warms, a filling for siomay that makes a surprise, or even a crunchy snack in the form of chips. It doesn't stop there, the freshness of bitter melon is also ready to accompany spicy chili sauce and other side dishes as a refreshing vegetable.
Some people have a surefire trick to tame the bitterness of bitter melon before starting the action in the pan. One of their mainstay moves is a salt 'massage' on the bitter melon slices which is said to be able to remove the bitter taste. Although effective in removing the bitterness, this technique has a 'side effect' in the form of a change in the color of the bitter melon to a slightly yellowish color.
Well, it turns out there is an alternative way to remove the bitter taste of bitter melon. This method was demonstrated by TikTok user @qualitygreens. In addition to being easy to imitate, this method also only uses kitchen ingredients. Namely, salt, vinegar, and granulated sugar.
As reported by BrilioFood from TikTok @qualitygreens on Thursday (19/9), cut the tip of the bitter melon. Then cut the bitter melon into four equal parts and remove the white contents.
photo: TikTok/@qualitygreens
Next, slice the bitter melon. Because it will be stir-fried, this netizen sliced it thinly.
photo: TikTok/@qualitygreens
Wash the bitter melon slices under running water. Once clean, drain and then put the bitter melon slices into the boiling water. Add 2 tablespoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/4 cup of vinegar. Stir and cook the bitter melon until done.
photo: TikTok/@qualitygreens
Boiling bitter melon with these three ingredients is believed to be effective in neutralizing the bitter taste of bitter melon. After the bitter melon is cooked, immediately drain it and run it with plain water. This process aims to stop the boiling of the bitter melon. As a result, the color of the bitter melon will remain green.
photo: TikTok/@qualitygreens
This ripe bitter melon can be consumed directly or processed with various spices according to taste. Because the bitter taste is gone, processed bitter melon will taste even more delicious and appetizing.
photo: TikTok/@qualitygreens
This upload on how to remove the bitter taste of bitter melon has caught the attention of netizens. Since it was uploaded in October 2021, this video has been watched 14.1 thousand times and liked by 219 other TikTok accounts.