The young shoots and leaves of the bitter melon may also be eaten as greens. †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.īitter melon is generally consumed cooked in the green or early yellowing stage. The sub-continent variety is most popular in Bangladesh and India. These miniature fruits are popular in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries in South Asia. Some bear miniature fruit of only 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) in length, which may be served individually as stuffed vegetables. Between these two extremes are any number of intermediate forms. The bitter melon more typical of India has a narrower shape with pointed ends, and a surface covered with jagged, triangular "teeth" and ridges. The cultivar common in China is 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) long, oblong with bluntly tapering ends and pale green in colour, with a gently undulating, warty surface. When the fruit is fully ripe, it turns orange and soft, and splits into segments which curl back to expose seeds covered in bright red pulp.īitter melon comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The pith becomes sweet and intensely red it can be eaten uncooked in this state, and is a popular ingredient in some Southeast Asian salads.
The Chinese variety is best harvested light green possibly with a slight yellow tinge or just before.
#TINGE FLORAL SKIN#
Some sources claim the flesh (rind) becomes somewhat tougher and more bitter with age, but other sources claim that at least for the common Chinese variety the skin does not change and bitterness decreases with age. Seeds and pith appear white in unripe fruits they are not intensely bitter and can be removed before cooking. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote, or green bell pepper, but bitter. The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith.
The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape. Mara (Chinese form), mara kheenok (Indian form) Mướp đắng (Northern dialects), khổ qua (Southern dialects) Bitter melon has many names in other languages, which have sometimes entered English as loanwords.
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