Fu qua (Momordica charantia)

Also known as

Bitter melon, balsam pear, karela, bitter gourd, African cucumber, alligator pear.

General information

Looking like a light green, fat cucumber with warty skin, the bitter melon must be one of the strangest looking of all vegetables. The number and shape of the bumps on their skin is characteristic of different varieties, as is the overall shape, and various ethnic groups have strong favourites in this regard. For example,the short, dark green and sharply lumpy melons favored in Vietnam look quite different to the longer, smoother and light green varieties grown in Japan.

Fu quas are grown in South East Asia, India, South America, East Africa and the Caribbean.  They are produced on a vigorous and ornamental vine which is usually grown over a trellis.  The vines are productive, but require a good supply of fertiliser. Bitter melons are grown commercially around Sydney, and in Queensland, with the largest area of production in the Northern Territory.

Fruit increase in bitterness as they mature, becoming inedible if left until they start to turn yellow. They are usually picked when green-mature, at about 15-25cm long.

Cooking tips

All parts of the plant, including the fruit, are extremely bitter.  They need to be prepared correctly to avoid an unpleasant eating experience.  Fu quas are not normally peeled, although any rough parts on the skin may be scraped off. It is important to remove the internal pith and seeds – the seeds especially should never be eaten as they can have purgative effects. Some of the bitterness can be removed by generously salting the flesh, leaving for at least 10 minutes and then rinsing in cold water to remove the bitter juice (similarly to eggplant).

Fu qua is used extensively in several Asian cuisines. It may be simply boiled or steamed, added to curries, stir fried or even sliced thinly for use in salads.  A popular recipe involves stuffing the hollowed out gourd with pork mince and baking. They are best when combined with other strongly flavoured ingredients, such as black bean paste, garlic or chilli.