Vietnamese Bitter Melon Soup (Canh Kho Qua)
Jan 11, 2025 02:08 AM
Vietnamese Bitter Melon Soup features stuffed bitter melon with pork in a clear and savory broth. This is a traditional dish of Southern Vietnamese cuisine. I will also share effective ways to reduce the bitterness of the gourd.
Bitter melon may also be called bitter gourd. The Vietnamese translation is either “mướp đắng“, which literally means bitter melon, or “khổ qua“, which means bitter living condition has gone away. “Muop dang” seems to be more common in the North while “kho qua” is used in all regions in Vietnam.
This stuffed bitter melon soup is especially popular in Southern Vietnam. They call it “canh khổ qua nhồi thịt” or “canh khổ qua dồn thịt“.
In the Southern part of the country, the soup is not only in the daily rotation of many families but also considered a must in the Lunar New Year feast. I think the reason behind this is by eating it for Tet, people wish all hardships in life will go away and the new year will be full of happiness.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb bitter melons
- 0.25 oz dried wood-ear mushrooms
- 6 oz ground pork
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced shallot
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups water
- a 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
- white part of 2 scallion stalks
- 2 cups chicken stock (or pork bone broth)
- green part of scallions, thinly sliced
- cilantro, roughly chopped
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
40 minutes
Total Time:
55 minutes
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