Vietnamese style fried bitter gourd egg - Bitter Gourd Week

With Asian based ingredients, some of the time it is beneficial to stick with recipes which are tried and tested with said ingredient. For example, with the bitter gourd it is very difficult to incorporate it casually in many dishes even using Asian-cooking methods. One of the most exotic cuisines in the world today is the Vietnamese based food. With influences from Chinese, French and even a bit of Cambodian; it is truly unique and has come to be beloved throughout the world. This is particularly true with dishes such as Pho, Bun Ga Nuong (Lemongrass chicken noodle), and of course the Goi Cuon (Spring/Salad roll). But many people do not get to experience other dishes in the culture such as the oft cooked bitter gourd.

Using the Vietnamese style of cooking, one of our chefs Hoa, made this simple yet endearing dish. This dish has two main components (egg and bitter gourd), and can be served with soy sauce while the main health benefits come from bitter gourd. It has an abundance of fibre, folate and vitamins A and C among other nutrients. All these add up to help improve your eyesight, keep your skin and bone formation healthy as well! Your blood pressure improves too as blood cholesterol, blood sugar are all reduced. Your liver is cleansed naturally by the bitter gourd as even your chances of cancer are lowered too according to many notable studies! Due to all these reasons this dish truly is great to give it a try! The fish sauce and peppers give it a unique taste while the bitterness is kept in check. The bitterness is still tastable even though you can still try out different Vietnamese flavours! Give it a try down below with us at San Living

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Ingredients(for 1)

-1/2 Bitter gourd

-Garlic

-4 Eggs

-Fish Sauce

-Pepper/salt/sugar

-1 Chilli pepper

-2 Stalks of spring onion

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Recipe

1. Wash the bitter gourd, take out the seeds then slice it!

2. Chop/prepare garlic then fry it with oil, then leave it to the side

3. Add bitter melon in a separate pan (or do this first), then add a bit of water until it turns a bit pale and soft. Keep adding water as it evaporates if it is not done. Always stir so it is maintained.

4. In an empty pan , fry the egg like you would a omelet

5. Add Fish sauce, pepper, salt, sugar and the chilli pepper , 2 stalks of spring onion. Then add in the bitter melon as well

6. Flip to maintain a more solid egg and an even cook

7. You're ready to serve! 

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