Raw Bitter Gourd Salad

The other day I picked the very first bitter gourd from my yard. There were more bitter gourds on the vines, but they were still too small. Because I only had one gourd I decided to make a raw salad. I've never made raw bitter gourd salad, though I've tasted it once. One of my aunts made it with freshly grated coconut. I don't have coconut so I omitted it.

Now, this salad is quite bitter. I normally cook bitter gourd in coconut milk or make fried salad which are still somewhat bitter. For some strange reason, I like bitter gourds. And they are full of nutrients such as magnesium, potassium and iron. In Sri Lanka people with diabetes take bitter gourd juice though you should first consult your doctor before taking bitter gourd juice with other medications.

My very first homegrown bitter gourd.

This recipe doesn't need too many ingredients. The most important part is to slice bitter gourd as thinly as possible.

Cut the gourde in half lengthwise and remove seeds. I used a teaspoon to scrape it out. I saved the seeds to plant later.

Seeds are soft and white at first and turns red when mature. This gourd has mature seeds, ideal for replanting.

To reduce bitterness I sprinkled salt on slices and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This also softens it up.

Bitter gourd slices sprinkled with salt.

Ingredients:

1 bitter gourd

1 shallot finely chopped

1/2 green chili pepper chopped or ground black pepper ( I used green chilies)

salt

lemon juice

Wash and cut the gourd in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and slice very thinly. Sprinkle salt, put in a strainer and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Squeeze slices to remove excess juice and place in a bowl. Add finely chopped shallot and green chili pepper / ground black pepper. Mix well and taste for salt. I didn't add more salt because it had enough. Add lemon juice and mix every think well. Salt and lemon juice reduce bitterness, but this is still a quite bitter salad.

Raw bitter gourd salad.