Bittermelon Omelette
Bittermelon omelette is a classic Chinese dish that comes together quickly, tastes amazing, and can help expand your palette.
Servings: 4 people
Cost: $7
Ingredients
- 1-2 Bittermelon (depending on how bitter you want)
- 3 eggs
- 1-2 shallots
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (I use avocado oil)
- ½ tsp cooking wine
- ½ tsp corn starch
- ½ tbsp water
- 1 pinch white pepper (black pepper will also do)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp fried chili in oil (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Wash 1-2 Bittermelon and cut in half long-ways. Using a spoon, gut the insides by scooping the seeds and the white parts out.
- Chop bittermelon into as thin as possible slices to cook faster. Try to keep the slices of similar thickness for best results.
- Peel and chop 1-2 shallots into thin slices, similar to the thickness of the bittermelon.
- Heat up a large flat pan on medium heat and add 1 tbsp neutral oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped shallots and turn up the heat. Cook and stir briefly for 10-20 seconds.
- Add in chopped bittermelon and toss/stir. Cook for 6-8 minutes until soft and translucent. Stir occasionally.
- While the bittermelon is cooking, prepare eggs. Crack 3 eggs into a medium-size bowl and scramble using a fork.
- In a small bowl, add ½ tsp corn starch then ½ tbsp water. Stir together until the corn starch is evenly mixed into the water and no longer clumpy.
- Add ½ tsp cooking wine, 1 pinch white pepper, 1 pinch salt, and the corn starch mixture to the scrambled eggs. Give it another stir to mix well.
- Using a spatula or cooking chop sticks, evenly distribute the bittermelon slices in the pan. Add the scrambled eggs into the pan, and make sure the egg evenly coats the pan around the bittermelon. Cover the pan with a lid for 2 minutes.
- Remove the lid. The eggs should be partially cooked but not stuck to the pan. Flip the eggs and bittermelon, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until desired egg "done-ness". Turn off the heat and plate.
- Add garnish (optional). I like to use 1 tbsp fried chili in oil with my eggs. Eat with rice and other dishes. Enjoy!