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    Home » Vegetables » Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon)

    Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon)

    by Lainey · Posted: Aug 29, 2019 · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    cooked ampalaya with egg

    Ampalaya Guisado is a delicious vegetable stir-fry made of bittermelon, eggs, and tomatoes. It’s full of nutrients, delicious and very budget-friendly.

    Ampalaya is translated to bitter melon in the Philippines. It is a popular vegetable to Filipinos and is almost a staple to the Filipino breakfast table.

    cooked ampalaya with eggs on a white plate

    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 eat 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.

    Here’s a quick overview of the health benefits:

    • A great source of dietary fiber, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, B vitamins, folate, magnesium, calcium, and iron
    • Also has a high amount of beta carotene that is twice as much that is contained in broccoli
    • Ampalaya has a high content of potassium, higher than that of bananas
    • The juice of ampalaya, or bitter gourd, or bitter melon acts as a blood purifier

    Tips and Tricks for Making This Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon) Recipe: 

    • Soak the ampalaya in salt and water will remove the bitterness (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)
    • Adding tofu bits to this recipe is a great way to enhance the flavor and the texture of this healthy recipe
    • Avoid overcooking the ampalaya as it brings out more of its bitterness

    How to Make this Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon) Recipe:

    Gather the ingredients for this Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon) and once the ingredients are all ready, let’s begin!

    • ampalaya (bitter melon)
    • coconut oil
    • small white onion 
    • garlic
    • tomatoes
    • eggs
    • salt
    • Pinch of pepper
    • green onion

    ampalaya recipe ingredients

    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, garlic, and saute for 1 minute or until fragrant:

    sauteeing onion and garlic in a hot pan for ampalaya with eggs recipe

    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):

    sauteeing tomatoes for ampalaya recipe

    In a small bowl, beat together the eggs, salt, pepper then add it into the frying pan. 

    beaten eggs in a bowl for ampalaya recipe

    Mix the eggs and ampalaya until well combined:

    adding beaten eggs to cooked ampalaya

    Allow it to simmer for about 1 minute then serve:

    seasoning ampalaya with pepper

     

    perfectly cooked ampalaya with egg in a clear bowl

    Frequently Asked Questions for the Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon) Recipe:

    Q: How to decrease the bitterness of the ampalaya (bitter melon)?

    A: Soaking it in water for about 30 minutes to 1 hour will decrease the bitterness.

    Q: Can I slice ampalaya ahead and chill it before cooking?

    A: Yes you can. But they say that when fruits or vegetables are sliced and left uncooked for quite a time, the vitamins and minerals are less potent.


    If you like this recipe you will enjoy these as well:

    • Tofu Sisig
    • Buko Pandan
    • Cassava Cake
    • Shakoy
    • Halo Halo
    • Turon

    Happy Cooking!

    cooked ampalaya with egg
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    Ampalaya Guisado

    A healthy Ampalaya Guisado (Sautéed Bitter Melon) recipe that is perfect for breakfastthat is a super healthy, savory meal!
    Author: Lainey

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup ampalaya bitter melon, sliced into thin wedges
    • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
    • 1 small white onion diced
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 to matoes cubed
    • 2 eggs beaten
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • Pinch of pepper
    • 1 green onion sliced

    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, 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.
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    Vegan Filipino Recipes, Vegetables ampalaya, bitter melon, eggs

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