Guisadong Ampalaya Recipe (Sauteed Bitter Melon)

IMAGE Majoy Siason

This Filipino vegetable dish is one of the simplest dishes one can do, plus it's healthy to boot! However, there are many who are turned off by the bitterness of the ampalaya or bitter gourd to even try to make this recipe.  

How do you cook ampalaya without the bitterness?

There are a few ways you can do it.  Leave the ampalaya, or bitter melon, in water and salt before cooking helps temper the bitter flavors. Another is to liberally salt the cut up pieces and then leave it overnight in a bowl to allow the salt to draw out most of the bitterness. A quick rinse and whirl in a salad spinner later, a less bitter ampalaya recipe is on the menu.