Kids in Asia eat biller melon stir fry with chilies, vegetables, rice, and oil, but many think it is the bitterest vegetable they have ever tried. Bitter melon is a fruit related to cucumbers, and is ready to harvest in late summer. Organic bitter melon grows well where summers are warm and long. Like other melons, it rapidly grows long vines. Kids can plant the melon to grow up a trellis or fence to keep the air circulating the melons and to save space in a raised bed garden. Why eat something so very bitter? When prepared properly with fat and spice, the bitter melon can become addictive. Plus a balance of bitter and sweet is a stimulus to the appetite. Grapefruit is the sour fruit most kids in the West know, but bitter melon is popular across all of Asia for its healing properties. It is considered a miracle antioxidant, helping those with asthma, diabetes, and HIV. The bitterness comes from nutrients called cucurbitacins which are said to cleanse the blood, aid digestion, and kill cancer cells. This melon is exceptionally rich in vitamins and minerals, with phytonutrients that help weight loss, bacterial infections, and skin inflammation and wounds. Rinse the melon, cut in half, scoop out the seeds, and slice. Toss the sliced melon in a bowl with sea salt and let sit at least 2 hours, tossing occasionally to help reduce the bitterness. Rinse the melon and use a towel to squeeze out excess liquid and add to a coconut milk curry. The melon slices can also be blanched in boiling water for a minute or two to reduce the bitterness, drained, and then added to a stir fry.
Cooking Magic for Kids 