If you're up for a quick, easy, and budget-friendly breakfast dish, check out this stir-fry ampalaya recipe! This Filipino dish is full of nutrients, delicious, and perfect for a healthy vegetarian breakfast for the whole family!
Looking for more ways to incorporate vegetables? Try my Filipino Chop Suey!, Porbidang Kangkong, and Eggplant Chickpea Stew recipe!
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What is Ampalaya Recipe?
This ampalaya recipe, locally known as ginisang ampalaya, is a classic Filipino vegetable dish made of sauteed sliced ampalaya, tomatoes, scrambled eggs, and spices which make a healthy and delicious breakfast!
This quick and easy stir-fried ampalaya is a staple breakfast dish in the Philippines. It balances the gourd's bitterness with savory and somewhat sweet flavors making it a popular option for a tasty and healthy meal.
Try making this dish on your own for a nutritious breakfast for your family. Learn more about this recipe below!
Health Benefits of Ampalaya (Bitter Melon)
- Its juice acts as a blood purifier.
- It has a high content of potassium, higher than that of bananas.
- A great source of dietary fiber, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, B vitamins, folate, magnesium, calcium, and iron
- It has a high amount of beta carotene which is twice as much in broccoli.
Variations
- Adding tofu bits to this dish is a great way to enhance its flavor and texture.
- Add chili slices or red chili flakes while sautéing for a spicy kick.
- After combining the eggs, sprinkle grated cheese over the dish to add a creamy and savory taste
- Garnish this dish with finely sliced green onions for a fresh finish.
Substitutions
- Sliced zucchini can be used instead of ampalaya for a less bitter option.
- For a vegan option with extra protein, use crumbled tofu for the eggs.
- Use halved cherry tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes for an added boost of color and taste.
Storage
- To ensure freshness, store the leftover ampalaya dish in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
- To reheat, gently warm in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of water or oil as needed to restore texture and taste.
- Make sure to check for any signs of spoilage before reheating.
Ingredients
Gather the following ingredients for this dish:
- ampalaya (bitter melon)
- coconut oil
- small white onion
- garlic
- tomatoes
- eggs
- salt
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
Slice the ampalaya (bitter gourd) vertically into two pieces, remove the seeds/strings, and then slice into thin wedges. After slicing the ampalaya, soak it in a bowl with salt and water for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour (the longer the better).
Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and add cooking oil. Add onions, and garlic, and sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant:
Add tomatoes and cook until tender (about 5 minutes).
Add ampalaya, cover, and simmer for about 3-5 minutes or until it softens. (The softening of the ampalaya will take an additional 5 minutes minimum):
In a small bowl, beat together the eggs, salt, and pepper then add it to the frying pan.
Mix the eggs and ampalaya until well combined:
Allow it to simmer for about 1 minute:
Serve it warm with steamed rice or as its own:
Enjoy a healthy and tasty dish!
Top Tips
- Soaking the ampalaya in salt and water will remove the bitter taste (although it might lose some of the health benefits).
- There is also one trick that is quicker than soaking the ampalaya in salted water. After slicing the ampalaya in half, scrape off all the white pulp where the seeds are. They say that the white pulp causes the bitterness of ampalaya (Note: It is said that the bitterness is what makes the ampalaya healthy, so it's kind of hard to decide, lol)
- Avoid overcooking the ampalaya as it brings out more of its bitterness.
FAQ
More Filipino Recipes
If you like this Filipino dish you will enjoy these as well:
Ampalaya Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup ampalaya (bitter melon) sliced into thin wedges
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 small white onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tomatoes cubed
- 2 eggs beaten
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Vertically slice ampalaya into two pieces, remove the seeds/strings, then slice into thin wedges.
- After slicing the ampalaya, soak it in a bowl with salt and water for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. (The longer the better.)
- Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and add oil. Add onions, and garlic, and saute for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and cook until tender (about 5 minutes).
- Add ampalaya, cover and simmer for about 3-5 minutes or until it softens. (The softening of the ampalaya will take an additional 5 minutes minimum)
- In a small bowl, beat together the eggs, salt, pepper then add it into the frying pan.
- Mix the eggs and ampalaya until well combined. Allow it to simmer for about 1 minute then serve.
Growing up ampalaya was a staple at my house, but I did not like eating it. As a kid, my parents encouraged (more like forced) me to eat at least one bite -which I did because I was a good kid. haha.
Now as an adult, I've learned to eat ampalaya for the health benefits and not so much for the taste. I found that cooking ampalaya with eggs makes it more bearable and I try to remember ampalaya has really awesome health benefits, so it's definitely worth it!
Mae says
I can relate! XD
I also didn't like eating ginisang ampalaya before but eventually liked it. This is truly a healthy breakfast option!
Lainey says
Haha. It's good to know that you like it now. Thanks for dropping by, Mae! I appreciate it!