Effects and edible methods of bitter melon

Chicory is the whole plant of chicory, which is characterized by being cold in nature, bitter in taste and non-toxic. Bitter melon has a certain anti-tumor effect. Its main nutrients are protein, starch, enzymatic vitamin C and vitamin B1. It is also rich in carotene and various trace elements. It has a good effect in clearing heat, cooling blood and detoxifying. It can play a good therapeutic effect on sores, snake and insect bites, and exogenous fever.

Medical effects

Bitter melon has the effects of clearing heat, cooling blood and detoxifying. It is mainly used to treat exogenous fever, jaundice, sores, snake and insect bites, etc. People in some areas of Guangdong regard bitter lettuce as a medicine for preventing and treating febrile diseases. Because they make a living by farming and work in the fields all day, when they feel uncomfortable due to cold or heat, they use a large amount of bitter lettuce to make soup and drink it while it is hot to dissipate heat and eliminate the cold.

Treating symptoms

If you suffer from conjunctivitis, with red eyes, photophobia, tearing, swelling and pain, drinking the soup made from bitter melon has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In the countryside, if people encounter children with malnutrition, yellow face and thin body, they will boil 1 liang of bitter melon with 4 liang of pork and drink it, which has a very good effect.

In the Qing Dynasty Wu Qijun's "Plant Names and Realities" it says: "Dark vegetables taste bitter and cold, they can cure evil spirits in the five internal organs, and can relieve stomach numbness. Long-term use can calm the mind, replenish qi, make people more alert, reduce lying, make the body lighter, and resist aging.

How to make vegetables

1. Bitter lettuce, grass carp fillet and tofu

[Ingredients] 500 grams of bitter melon, 200 grams of grass carp meat, 2 pieces of tofu, and 3 slices of ginger.

【Cooking】

1. Wash the bitter melon and cut into sections;

2. Soak the tofu in clean water;

3. Wash the grass carp meat, cut it into thin slices, and marinate it with 1 tablespoon each of cornstarch, cooking oil and light soy sauce for 10 minutes.

4. Add 1250 ml (about 5 bowls) of water and ginger to the pot, boil over high heat, add the mustard greens and tofu.

Illustration of how bitter melon goes from garden to table

Illustrations of how bitter melon goes from the garden to the table (20 photos)

Cook until done, add the fish fillets and roll until just cooked, then add appropriate amount of salt and cooking oil. (Excerpt from: Baidu Encyclopedia)

2. Cold bitter melon

[Ingredients] 1 pound of bitter lettuce, appropriate amounts of minced garlic, diced chili peppers, ground ginger, pepper powder, a small amount of sesame oil, pepper oil, chili oil, peanut oil, refined salt, and light soy sauce.

【Cooking】

1. Wash the bitter melon and cut into sections;

2. Put it into boiling water and blanch it until cooked, remove it from the plate and let it cool, then add appropriate amount of minced garlic, divided chili pepper, ground ginger, pepper powder, a small amount of sesame oil, pepper oil, chili oil, salt, and light soy sauce, mix well, and finally drizzle with cooked peanut oil and mix well.

3. Stir-fried bitter lettuce

[Ingredients] 1 pound of bitter melon, appropriate amounts of minced garlic, minced ginger, chopped green onion, pepper, refined salt, and white sugar. 【Cooking】

1. Wash and cut the bitter melon into sections, blanch it in boiling water until cooked, remove it from the water and place it on a plate to cool.

2. After sautéing the minced garlic and ginger in a pan, add the prepared bitter melon and stir-fry for one minute. Sprinkle in appropriate amount of pepper, salt and sugar and continue to stir-fry until it is well-seasoned. Serve on a plate and sprinkle with chopped green onions.