Today I write about one of my favorite summer dishes with bitter melon, which may not common in some countries. It wasn't in my childhood but thankfully bitter melons became more and more popular when Okinawa (the most southern prefecture in Japan) food spread in 90s-2000s.
The other day, I had the opportunity to pass through an area where Middle Eastern people live, and I was riding the tram while looking at the streets. I saw some shops in this area had okra, so I was keeping my eyes out. As expected, there was a shop with okra, so I got off at the next stop. And guess what, they also had bitter melon! It was my first time seeing it 🥳
When I asked a friend whose husband is from the Middle East, she said, "He mentioned that he ate bitter melon for the first time in Japan." Last year, I didn't have much success growing them on my balcony, so I was really excited and of course, I bought some. One small bitter melon and about ten pieces of okra for 1.5 euros. I wondered if the shop was okay with importing them...
Now it's time to make stir fried bitter melon. Recently, I got my hands on some Japanese rice, which might fit perfect with the dish. I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture before cutting the vegetables 😅
I cut the bitter melon, garlic, ginger, onion, carrot, and tofu. I love biting into large chunks of vegetables, so I cut them thickly.
Once everything is cut, it's super easy. Heat some oil, add the vegetables, and stir-fry with salt and pepper. Just looking at the deep green color of the bitter melon in summer already makes me feel energized.
Once the vegetables are cooked, drizzle with soy sauce.
In the end, I added beaten eggs and cooked it lightly.
Done! The bitterness of the bitter melon is delicious and seems to have a detoxifying effect. I notice it. I enjoyed this meal with Japanese rice 🍚
Speaking of bitter melon, every year I try to grow it on my balcony. This year, the first batch of seeds I planted didn't sprout, so I changed the seed shop and reordered. This time, they sprouted successfully. If I plant them while they are still small, they might be overtaken by the already grown plants, so I plan to grow them in pots until the end of May before transplanting.
Yes, it's summer! Let's enjoy the taste of summer 😊
先日、中東の人たちが多く住んでいる地域を通る機会があって、トラムに乗って通りを眺めていました。この地域のお店にはオクラが並んでいることがあって、目を凝らして見ていたのです。予想通りオクラが並んでいるお店があって、迷わず次の駅で降りました。そうしたらなんと、ゴーヤも売っていたのです。初めて！
中東の旦那さんがいるお友達に聞いてみると「彼は日本でゴーヤを初めて食べたと言っていたけれどなんでだろう？？」とのこと。去年はバルコニーで不作だったので大興奮でもちろん買いました。小ぶりのゴーヤ一本とオクラ10本ほどで1.5ユーロ（250円ほど）、八百屋さんよ、輸入しているだろうに大丈夫なのか・・・。近々また買いに行ってしまいそうです。
ゴーヤといえばゴーヤチャンプル。最近日本米を手に入れたこともあり、ハイテンションで作りました。テンションが上がりすぎて、切る前の写真をとるのを忘れました😅
ゴーヤ、にんにく、生姜、たまねぎ、にんじん、お豆腐を好きな大きさに切ります。私はごろごろ大きな野菜を噛み締めるのが大好きなので大きめに切ります。
切ったらそのあとは簡単です。油を熱して、野菜を投入したら塩胡椒で炒めます。ゴーヤの夏の濃い濃い緑を見ているだけでもうすでに元気が出てきました。
野菜に火が通ったら醤油を回しかけます。
最後に溶き卵を入れて軽く火を通します。
できあがり！ゴーヤの苦味がおいしい上にデトックスもしてくれるようで、たまりません。もっちもちの日本米とともに一人暮らしの休日のご飯を堪能しました。
そんなゴーヤですが、毎年懲りずにバルコニーで育てようとしています。今年は最初にまいた種が発芽せず、種苗店を変えて注文し直して無事発芽しました。小さいまま植えてしまうと既に生えている植物に負けてしまいそうなので、5月末ごろまでポットで育苗して移植しようと思います。
夏ですね。夏の味覚を楽しみつつ元気に過ごしましょう！
I didn’t really like bitter melons but when I tried Goya Champuro in Okinawa years ago, I started liking them! 😅
I didn’t know it’s so easy preparing them!
Yes, it's a super easy casual every day dish. Even there is no proper recipe and everyone does in ones own way. I envy you that bitter melons are available everywhere in Japan ......... Enjoy bitter melon season!
むはーーー！もうゴーヤですか。八百屋さん、お値打ちすぎます。羨ましい！
ゴーヤチャンプルは私も大好きでよく作ります。私はスライサーで薄くカットしたゴーヤをたくさん入れる、という手法をとっています。どんな味付けでも美味しい😋
2年前くらいに毎朝ウォーキング中に出会うおばあちゃんがいて仲良くなって、その方の旦那さん（おじいちゃん）が畑で作って大豊作で食べきれないから、とたくさんゴーヤをいただいたことがあります。あれは幸せだった。
あきぽんさんのバルコニーでも豊作になることを祈ってます。
ドイツではこんなに早くはできないと思うので、多分輸入だと思うんですよ。中東からなのか、アジアからなのか。
まだ半分残っているので次はスライサーで薄切りにしてあいさんなゴーヤチャンプル作ってみます。
ゴーヤたくさんもらったら甘酢漬けにしておやつに食べて・・・
今週はゴーヤ様たちのためにネットはり頑張ります😊
We have bitter melon in Chinese cuisine and we normally cook them with meat in a black bean sauce. One year I was in Okinawa and found they stir fry them with luncheon meat with some egg, that was so delicious!
I didn't know it's also used in Chinese cuisine even we like Chinese food and ate often in China towns such as the one in Yokohama. I quickly googled and stir fried bitter melon with black bean sauce looks so tasty. I must find the sauce and try it.
Talking about the Okinawa dish, it's the one that made me a big big fan of bitter melon 😊
One of the a little bit hate vegetables hehe biiter gourd looks yummy 🤤
Isn't it your taste? Haha, a friend of mine I had phone call said so. She is also a Japanese living in Germany and I thought she was interested in it but she didn't need it 😉
It's yummy at all
Stir fry with tofu is common meal also in here
but my fav to reduce bitterness is making egg omelette with bitter melon slices 😊
Omelet is a good idea. We also combine it with egg. I like the bitterness though 😁
You might have bitter melon harvest from your great garden, don't you?
Ah, we have those in the supermarkets here, I didn't know what they were! Now I can try them 😍
You have it! Now you know what it is and how you can use it. The outlook of bitter melon is so unique so I understand the feeling. Kids like it because of its outlook. It's always a good toy of my daughter ;)