Healthy and Delicious Bitter Gourd Salad (Yeoju Muchim) Recipe
Special Bitter Gourd Dish for Diabetes Management: Bitter Gourd Salad with Reduced Bitterness and Enhanced Flavor
Bitter gourd (Yeoju), perhaps a less familiar vegetable to many? It’s known for its potential benefits in blood sugar management, making it a noteworthy healthy ingredient. Due to its inherent bitterness, it’s rarely consumed raw and is typically prepared in various ways. It pairs wonderfully when stir-fried with meats or mixed with other vegetables. Bitter gourd is packed with Vitamin C, and notably, this vitamin is quite stable even when heated, meaning you retain its nutritional value when cooked. It’s also beneficial for combating summer fatigue and promoting skin health. Combining Vitamin C and Vitamin E from bitter gourd can offer potent antioxidant effects.
**✨ Tips for Selecting Fresh Bitter Gourd ✨**
1. Choose ones that are straight, firm, and have a good weight.
2. Avoid those with swollen roots, as this might indicate lower freshness.
3. Look for a surface with distinct, shiny, and densely packed bumps.
4. Select gourds with a vivid, deep green color, signifying freshness and rich nutrients.
**💡 Catch the highlight of this recipe starting from 05:27!**
Main Ingredients- 1 fresh bitter gourd
- 1/4 onion
- 1 pinch coarse salt (for blanching)
Spicy and Sweet Seasoning- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the fresh bitter gourd thoroughly, remove the ends, and slice it thinly on a diagonal about 0.5 cm thick. For a milder taste, you can remove the seeds.
Step 2
Peel the onion and slice it into thin strips, about 0.5 cm thick. The onion’s mild spiciness and sweetness will complement the bitter gourd well.
Step 3
Boil a generous amount of water in a pot. Once boiling, add a pinch of coarse salt. Carefully add the sliced bitter gourd and blanch for just 30 seconds to 1 minute. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become mushy.
Step 4
Immediately rinse the blanched bitter gourd under cold water to stop the cooking process. Gently squeeze out excess water using your hands. Ensuring it’s well-drained is key for the seasoning to adhere properly.
Step 5
Place the drained bitter gourd and the sliced onion into a large bowl. All the preparation is now complete!
Step 6
Add all the seasoning ingredients – minced garlic, oligodang, gochugaru, sesame oil, and gochujang – to the bowl. Gently mix everything together with your hands, like massaging. Toss until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Your delicious bitter gourd salad is ready! It can be enjoyed immediately or chilled in the refrigerator for a refreshing treat.
