Bitter Melon is such a healthy food. It has been reported to help regulate blood sugar (good for type II diabetes), rid the body of kidney stones, cleanse the liver, help reduce cholesterol, fight pancreatic cancer, and help with weight loss. Wow have you ever heard of a food with such benefits. It does have a bitter taste as the name implies but it is a taste that I actually have acquired over some time, however these pickles do reduce the bitterness and add other flavors. Best of all they preserve the bitter melon for several months. Eat and enjoy the health benefits, here is the recipe.
Ingredients
3 medium-sized bitter melons
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt and additional salt for sprinkling over then to extract some bitterness.
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes (or to taste)
2 1/2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh giner
Directions
Slice each melon in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and cottony bits with a spoon, then slice crosswise in about 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch. Put the slices in a colander in the sink and sprinkle generously with salt. Let stand about 20 minutes, then rinse and drain the slices. Put the bitter melon and the ginger in a clean one-quart glass jar or two pint jars. Combine vinegar, salt, sugar, and chile flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil stiring till the salt and sugar dissolve. Pour the hot brine over the bitter melon slices and ginger in the jar. Screw on a lid and refrigerate. Let the pickles set inf the fridge for about 3 days and then they will be ready to eat.
is the best I have found) and a vegan chicken broth (
). Increase the amount of Lemongrass to give it a more herbal punch. You can also add in cooked carrot to give it an additional dimension. Or if you don’t want the chicken flavor at all, go all on veggie with a vegetable broth and all veggies (carrot, celery, onion, and add about 1 jalapeno sliced) and add in the lemongrass. You will have to boil the veggies in the broth on this version though (about 30 -45 mins) since you are now going with uncooked veggies and want to cook the veggies and integrate the flavor. You will still get the decongestant benefits of the lemongrass.