AI-generated image
Kugua chao dan
Bitter melon with egg
Kǔguā chǎo dàn (苦瓜炒蛋): bitter melon stir-fried with fluffy egg
In the humid summers of Guangdong and Fujian, bitter melon is eaten for its "cooling" quality, and kugua chao dan is the gentlest way to learn to love it: thin slices of the ridged green gourd stir-fried until just tender, then folded into soft scrambled egg, which softens the bitterness. It is a classic dish of Cantonese home dinners, eaten with rice. Eggs are an allergen. A portion is about 140 kcal. The most common mistake is not salting the melon; a 10-minute salt and squeeze draws out much of the bitterness. Chef's tip: scrape out every bit of the white pith inside the melon with a spoon; that is where most of the bitterness lives.
- Total time
- 23 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 1 bitter melonabout 300 g, halved, seeds and white pith scraped out, thinly sliced
- ¾ tsp saltsplit
- 3 eggsbeaten with a pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp sunflower oilsplit
- 1 garlic cloveminced
- ¼ tsp sugar
Shop this recipe on Amazon
What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (1)
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Toss 1 bitter melon with half the ⅜ tsp salt and leave for 10 minutes. Squeeze firmly to remove the bitter juice, then rinse and pat dry.
10 minStep 2: Heat half the ½ tbsp sunflower oil in a wok over a medium-high heat. Pour in 3 eggs and stir gently for 30–40 seconds, until they set into large, soft curds that are still slightly wet. Tip onto a plate.
1 minStep 3: Add the rest of the ½ tbsp sunflower oil and 1 garlic clove and stir for 10 seconds. Add the bitter melon and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes, until it turns bright green and is just tender with some bite.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kugua chao dan take?
- About 23 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of garlic clove?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Black bean tacos with lime slaw
Proof that a meat-free taco night can be the best one. The beans are mashed with chipotle and cumin so they hold together in the tortilla, and a quick lime slaw adds crunch.
Mexican
Caramelised clay-pot tofu and mushroomsBraised tofu and mushrooms
Kho is the slow braise of the Mekong Delta: food simmered in a little clay pot (nồi đất) with dark caramel and seasoning until the sauce is sticky and the flavours go deep. This vegetarian cousin of cá kho tộ (braised fish) uses golden tofu and meaty mushrooms in place of fish, cooked in coconut water, as cooks do in the south, and finished with plenty of black pepper. Serve it bubbling in its pot with steamed rice and a sour soup or plain boiled vegetables. Chef's tip: take the caramel (nước màu) to a deep mahogany, darker than you think, just before it smokes; pale caramel only tastes sweet, while dark caramel gives the bittersweet, smoky flavour of a real kho.
Vietnamese
Cheese charlotte
Rounds of bread spread with cream cheese, soaked in egg custard and baked gently in a water bath until just set. Soft and mild, it suits babies of 8–18 months and makes a good light lunch for toddlers too. Serve warm.