Post by Admin on Dec 7, 2011 13:38:17 GMT -5
Stuffed Bitter Melon - Dib Iab Ntim Nqaij Hau Ua Kua
Makes 8-10 servings
Many western people are unfamiliar with bitter melon. Indeed, the flavor is quite bitter! However, bitter melon is good for you and low in fat. It is considered a good vegetable for diabetics to eat.
Ingredients
6 medium sized ripe bitter melons (the seeds will be red)
1 lb lean pork or chicken (ground)
1/2 bunch cilantro
4 green onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon MSG (optional)
Dash black pepper
2 quarts water (or enough to cover the bitter melon as it cooks)
1 bulb/stock lemon grass, cleaned, chopped into 3-inch pieces
Preperation
Prepare the bitter melon
Clean and then cut each bitter melon into two pieces, widthwise. With a small spoon (I use a long-handled iced tea spoon) scoop out the seeds and surrounding pith, leaving the melon's thick shell in-tact.
Prepare the filling
Chop the meat very fine with a cleaver, or buy ground pork or chicken. Chop cilantro leaves and green onions fine. Mix the meat, cilantro, green onion and seasonings together with your hands.
Cook
Put a quart of water in a pot on the stove to boil. Add the chopped lemon grass to the water. Fill the hollowed-out bitter melons with the meat mixture, put them into the boiling water and reduce the heat. Cook for 20 minutes in gently simmering water, until the filling is cooked and the biter melon is soft. If there is extra pork mixture, form it into small meat balls and cook in the water with the stuffed melon. After it is finished cooking, snip each melon half into 2 inch slices with kitchen shears or a knife. Serve with the broth in a large, shallow bowl. Diners dish the stuffed bitter melon pieces onto their plates and sip the broth from a spoon directly from the serving bowl.
Recipe from: hmongcooking.com/
Makes 8-10 servings
Many western people are unfamiliar with bitter melon. Indeed, the flavor is quite bitter! However, bitter melon is good for you and low in fat. It is considered a good vegetable for diabetics to eat.
Ingredients
6 medium sized ripe bitter melons (the seeds will be red)
1 lb lean pork or chicken (ground)
1/2 bunch cilantro
4 green onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon MSG (optional)
Dash black pepper
2 quarts water (or enough to cover the bitter melon as it cooks)
1 bulb/stock lemon grass, cleaned, chopped into 3-inch pieces
Preperation
Prepare the bitter melon
Clean and then cut each bitter melon into two pieces, widthwise. With a small spoon (I use a long-handled iced tea spoon) scoop out the seeds and surrounding pith, leaving the melon's thick shell in-tact.
Prepare the filling
Chop the meat very fine with a cleaver, or buy ground pork or chicken. Chop cilantro leaves and green onions fine. Mix the meat, cilantro, green onion and seasonings together with your hands.
Cook
Put a quart of water in a pot on the stove to boil. Add the chopped lemon grass to the water. Fill the hollowed-out bitter melons with the meat mixture, put them into the boiling water and reduce the heat. Cook for 20 minutes in gently simmering water, until the filling is cooked and the biter melon is soft. If there is extra pork mixture, form it into small meat balls and cook in the water with the stuffed melon. After it is finished cooking, snip each melon half into 2 inch slices with kitchen shears or a knife. Serve with the broth in a large, shallow bowl. Diners dish the stuffed bitter melon pieces onto their plates and sip the broth from a spoon directly from the serving bowl.
Recipe from: hmongcooking.com/