foto: YouTube/Sukasari group
Brilio.net - Bitter melon is often chosen as a traditional vegetable menu because of its high nutritional content and various health benefits. This vegetable with a distinctive taste is often processed in various dishes, from stir-fries to mixtures in soups. However, the strong bitter taste of bitter melon is often a challenge for some people.
The bitter taste of bitter melon comes from a natural compound called momordicin, which functions as a natural protection for plants from pests. Although beneficial for health, a bitter taste that is too strong can be unpleasant on the tongue. Therefore, many people choose to process bitter melon in a special way, such as squeezing it with salt to reduce the intensity of the bitter taste.
But besides squeezing it, there are other methods that can be used to reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon. A YouTube user Sukasari group once explained it further. Through one of the videos uploaded, he admitted to only relying on a simpler technique.
As reported by BrilioFood from YouTube Sukasari group on Tuesday (21/1), the technique used is to boil the bitter melon. Well, this bitter melon will later be boiled with the addition of salt so that the bitter taste can be drastically reduced. In addition, this process also makes the bitter melon soft, making it easier to process again.
how to reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon without losing nutrients
YouTube/Sukasari group
For a clearer way to boil it, prepare the bitter melon and cut it into two parts. After that, scoop out the middle part or the contents of the bitter melon and throw it away. Make sure there is no filling left because that part tends to be difficult to digest later.
how to reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon without losing nutrients
YouTube/Sukasari group
After being split, cut it into several pieces. Then wash it thoroughly under running water. If so, prepare water in a pan and add enough salt, stir until the salt dissolves. Next, also add the bitter melon that has been washed clean.
Now, boil the bitter melon for 10-20 minutes according to the desired doneness. If you want the texture to still be crunchy, you can boil it for only 10 minutes. If you want a softer texture, you can boil it longer. But make sure not to boil the bitter melon for more than 20 minutes because the nutrients can be lost because they dissolve in hot water.
how to reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon without losing nutrients
YouTube/Sukasari group
Boiling bitter melon in salt water can reduce its bitter taste because salt helps attract and bind the bitter compounds found in the bitter melon flesh. When bitter melon is boiled in salt water, the process of osmosis occurs, where salt penetrates the bitter melon tissue and pushes the bitter compounds out into the boiling water. As a result, the strong bitter taste is significantly reduced.
In addition, the heat from the boiling process also helps break down the bitter compounds in the bitter melon, making the bitterness lighter. Salt water works effectively in speeding up this process compared to regular water, because salt can speed up the dissolution of the bitter compounds from the pores of the bitter melon.
how to reduce the bitter taste of bitter melon without losing nutrients
YouTube/Sukasari group
When it is cooked, immediately turn off the stove. Then lift and drain the bitter melon. This technique is not only easy to do, but also maintains the texture of the bitter melon so that it remains crispy and delicious. After boiling, the bitter melon can be rinsed with cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess salt residue, so that it is ready to be processed into various dishes without a disturbing bitter taste.
(brl/ola)
