, doesn't this just rhyme! :DI know 80% (or more) of you, do not like bittergourd. And I'm sure a white bittergourd would not change your views, or even excite your appetite anytime now or later.
White bittergourd or a hybrid white pearl...
In my memory, I have always seen and eaten bittergourd which are green; and have braised or stir fry them, GREEN.
Green bittergourd
I have no idea why most bittergourds are white in Taiwan - perhaps white mean un-bitter? They wanna trick us!? :O For example, where papayas, mangoes, and bananas are concerned, GREEN means unripe - thus sour, or bitter.
Well, well, well...white bittergourd is no where, un-bitter. You just use the same tips and techniques to reduce the bitterness in white or green bittergourds, if you do not like them too bitter. To reduce bitterness, add some salt into water, and soak strips/pieces of bittergourd in the water(~5mins). The longer you soak, the less bitter it will be. Find tips on bittergourds, and bittergourd recipes here and here.
Don't start off your day feeling bitter, ok? It's Monday. Enjoy the week ahead.
Tag: bittergourd
Yes, I noticed the bittergourd in Taiwan is white in colour. It didn't taste sweet, right? hehe... The Taiwanese have many great bittergourd dishes.
ReplyDeleteoh this white bittergourd looks like a gem...... a jewel!
ReplyDeleteI don't know there is a white bitterground lol so interesting!
ReplyDeleteGreat entry!
I eat the green bittergourd but haven't encountered a white one yet. Looks interesting yes.
ReplyDeleteWell, you're right, I don't like the taste of bittergourd -- but I love your photos! They look like magical sea creatures.
ReplyDeletewow..i've never seen white bittergourds before. Bet they taste as yummy as the green ones. What other strange colored vegetables are there in Taiwan?
ReplyDeleteThe white bittergourd is so pretty! That itself makes me feel like eating it :)
ReplyDeleteI will have to learn more about this vegetable. It looks very beautiful. The flavor must match!
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with bittergourd but I like the photographs you took of it a lot.
ReplyDeleteHmm, white one looks very interesting and surely makes a lovely dish... wonder whether I can find them around my place... Just ate the green one in last nite's yong tau fu. Bitter!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tips of making bittergourd less bitter. I have yet to see a white bittergourd too, it looks so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of or seen one of those before. It's always fun to learn about what other people, like/eat. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's sooo pretty. I've never seen white bittermelon before. Still can't eat them though. :(
ReplyDeleteI didnt know white bittergourd exist!!! They may be bitter in taste but i love bittergourd..hope you will share some of your secret recipes on how to cook them "tigerfish" style!!! nice WS entry...i miss it again this weekend..poor weather and lack of inspiration :-(
ReplyDeleteI grew up on green, but the white is so pretty! I see them in Asian supermarkets.
ReplyDeleteI love eating bittergourd. supposed to be good for the complexion (?), no? Never seen the white ones before. Intersting!
ReplyDeleteThere are white ones?! I really had no idea.
ReplyDeleteI belong to that 20% who enjoy eating bittergourd. There are so many ways to cook it! If you do it right, it is very tasty :)
Then again, I am the type who love bitter herbal soup anyway.
Good pictures by the way!
never knew that bittergourd has an albino counterpart...interesting. regardless of the colour, i think it's generally a "cooling" vegetable.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen that before! So if it is un-bitter..what taste is it?
ReplyDeleteI have never had bittergourd. Hopefully one day I will come across some and get to try it. It looks pretty interesting.
ReplyDeletewah ... so cute ... I haven't seen white bitter gourd b4 ... somehow it just looks quite innocent and un-bitter, lol
ReplyDeleteI've never had bitter gourd before, never even seen it here.
ReplyDeleteThe white one looks like sweet corn! You could probably play some nasty tricks on people...
Haha I've been trying to avoid bittergourd for my whole life,
ReplyDeleteMaybe this "unbitter" method can help me conquer the fear of eating it.
Looks like it can be sliced thinly like how you did it; and arranged like fugu (puffer fish) in the shape of a chrysanthemum! Eat raw and for salad/garnishing.
ReplyDeletelooks kinda weird..like an albino version of bittergourd..or did they just white wash it?
ReplyDeletei'm 1/2 okinawan and the green version is practically the national food, i've been eating it since i was a child...i've never seen white before and am curious to try it...thanks for the photos, you did a great job.
ReplyDeleteNever seen a white bitter gourd before. Not a particular favorite dish of mine, but I would eat it if it was served at dinner.
ReplyDeleteI like the snow white color bittergourd!!.I refused to eat bittergourd,eventhough ppls said it's good for your health..Thank you for your tips and photo..Today I learn something new again:))
ReplyDeleteI have learned something new again today. I have not even seen or heard of a bittergourd until this morning.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.. never see this before. but as you said regardless what color they are.. they don't taste interesting for sure haa.. at least for me.
ReplyDeleteInteresting..!! i've never seen a white one before.. :) thanks for sharing..;)
ReplyDeleteI'm one of the 80%! hehe...
ReplyDeleteit's very interesting! i've never seen a white one before, but once in a while will eat the green one :)
ReplyDeleteIf it's yellow, i would tink it looks like a corn!
ReplyDeleteI just have normall GREEN bitter gourd for dinner. I have never heard of white bittergourd. Showed Hubby and he told me he saw it in Japan.
ReplyDeleteECL, no lah! Same like normal bittergourd!
ReplyDeletebboven, u like bittergourd ?
shabem, I had to try it the first time I saw it.
lynn, same here.
lydia, coral reefs, maybe? :P
the expedited writer, hmmmm.....let me see....
nupur, it's nice, isn't it?
sandy, it's an acquired taste, really. I wonder if you will like it :P
carver, thanks!
myf, I don't really like it when bittergourd in yong tau foo is cut so thick.
I prefer the thinner ones stuffed with meat/fish fillings. :P
little corner, ya..I never seen in the US too leh!
natalie, oh ye...there are so many things I've yet to discover too.
wandering chopsticks, hahahha!
dhanggit, I have done a few dishes with green bittergourd. Steaming, braised, in soup.
eatingplum, where where?
SAHM, oh ye? Good for complexion?
wilfrid, I am in that 20% too!
nic, hahahahah, albino...so funny! Hhahahahha!
daphne, no. It's still bitter.
kevin, you shd be able to find the green ones in Asian supermarkets but I wonder if you will like it.
It's BITTER!
noobcook, you like bittergourd?
vicki, hahahhaha...tell them it's sweet corn and it turns out bitter :O
cindy, quite popular in taiwan.
las montanas, yes...I like to cut them thin, but have not eaten them raw.
joe, bleach? ? :O I don't dare to think about it!
anonymous, I like the green and white ones. Thanks for visiting.
ming, at least you will eat it. Some don't even dare to touch it :O
beachlover, maybe it's good coz it's bitter. Just like medicine :O
bellini, wooo.....I'm glad this was useful.
cocoa, hahhaha
rex, wooo......it's was my first too!
blurmommy, it's ok. That are other veg for u to like. I don't like egg plant.
eliza, hhhaaa....once in a while? So do you like, or don't ? :P
omnivore, ya loh...one reader also said that.
pea, Japan and TW quite close and TW has much JP influence on food.
Tigerfish,
ReplyDeleteYou always teach me about new things - I love it! I want to try bittergourd some day.
Woah.. white bittergourd, I didn't even know it exists. Gosh, my tastebuds are quite similar to yours. All the things u cooked, I like them all!
ReplyDelete