For today’s recipe, we’ve reworked the classic Vietnamese filled bitter melon soup and given it a plant-based twist. The consoling dish celebrates the unique taste of bitter gourd, and it is super easy put together. Let us show you how it’s done!
Also known as canh kho qua In Vietnamese, the traditional soup consists of bitter melon chunks stuffed with noodles, minced pork and fish sauce, then simmered in broth until tender.
Because it contains fish and meat, it’s a no-go recipe for those on a plant-based diet. But don’t worry, making a vegan version is easier than you think.
Thanks to tofu and soy sauce, you have the perfect vegan alternative to pork and fish sauce. Firm tofu has a spongy texture similar to ground beef and a nutritional profile to match. Soy sauce is salty and savory, just like fish sauce. Smash the two with shiitake mushrooms and sesame oil and you get one delicious vegan filling for your bitter melons.
Another essential ingredient in Stuffed Bitter Gourd Soup is glass noodles. These super cool, transparent noodles are made from mung bean starch. Also known as cellophane noodles or bean vermicelli, you can find them at your local Asian grocery store. Glass noodles hold the tofu filling together and add an interesting chewy finish.
As for bitter melon, we must first tell you that it is quite bitter (as the name suggests). Some people love them while others have trouble eating them.
To reduce the bitterness of the squashes, we coated them in salt, which helps draw out the bitter juices. We also sweetened both the filling and the broth to balance the flavors, but some of the bitterness still lingers.
Also known as bitter gourd or bitter gourd, bitter melon is a common ingredient in African, Caribbean, and Southeast Asian cuisines.
You should be able to find the Indian or Chinese variety at your local Asian grocery store. They taste pretty similar, but the Indian type has a more uneven, jagged skin – and because it looks really cool, we chose it for our recipe!
Ok, now it’s time to put on your apron and get started!