Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup (Canh Khổ Qua)
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
345 kcal
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Cuisine
Vietnamese
Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup (Canh Khổ Qua)
Description
Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup combines hollowed bitter melons stuffed with a seasoned blend of ground pork, chopped onions, wood ear mushrooms, and hydrated mung bean noodles. The filling is flavored with sugar, salt, pepper, and optional fish sauce, giving depth and umami.
The stuffed melons cook in a broth made from water and stock, simmering gently for 20 to 30 minutes until the bitter melons become tender and the flavors meld. After cooking, the melons are sliced into bite-sized pieces and returned to the broth. The soup’s flavor balances the distinctive slight bitterness of the melon with seasoned meat filling and a clear, light broth.
Garnished with chopped cilantro and green onions before serving, the soup offers fresh herbal notes. It is typically served warm as a nourishing starter or light entree that can accompany other dishes.
Ingredients
- 4 bitter melon 5-6" long or 3 bitter melons 8" long
Filling
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 onion ~2/3 cup chopped, medium
- 1/2 /2 cup Wood ear mushrooms chopped (pictured on my egg roll recipe, hydrated
- 1 mung bean noodles chopped. ~1 cup hydrated. (also pictured on my egg roll recipe, dried; pack
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 /2 tablespoon fish sauce optional
Broth
- 3 cups broth
- 4.5 .5 cups water
- sugar for seasoning the broth
- salt for seasoning the broth
Garnish
- cilantro chopped
- green onions chopped
Instructions
- Soak bean threads in hot tap water and mushrooms in 40-second microwaved hot tap water until soft. About 10 minutes. Drain and rinse mushrooms well.
- Cut a slit along each bitter melon and remove the seeds with a spoon. Sometimes it just wont open properly so you'll need to split the melon in half lengthwise and just add the filling.
- Bring the water and broth to a boil in a pot on high heat, but put aside about 1 cup for adjusting seasoning.
- Add the stuffed bitter melons
- Turn heat down to reach a low boil, simmer for 20-30 minutes until bitter melons are fork-tender.
- The water will have slightly evaporated and the stuffing released seasoning to the broth, so taste it then add salt and sugar to your liking if needed, or add more hot water to dilute it.
- Remove bitter melons and cut into 1.5-2" long pieces.
- Garnish with cilantro and green onion, serve with broth.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 345 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0g | |
| Calories | 345kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 21g | 42% |
| Fat | 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 82mg | 27% |
| Sodium | 1546mg | 64% |
| Potassium | 645mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 813IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 81mg | 90% |
| Calcium | 53mg | 5% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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