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BITTER GOURD AND CARROT SOUP

This is a healthy and nutritious soup, especially for those who love this bitter melon :)
Bitter gourd - you'll either love the bitter taste or hate it. Chinese often cook bitter gourd soups when the weather is hot as it is believed to have cooling effects. Other soups with similar cooling effects are watercress, winter melon and old cucumber soups :D
It helps to clear heat, brighten eyesight and detoxify the body. 

Ingredients:


  • 1 medium sized bitter gourd 
  • 1 medium sized carrot, peeled and cut into bite sized
  • 10-12 red dates, pits removed 
  • A handful of goji berries, soaked til puffy
  • Approx 150-200g pork bones
  • 1500ml water


  1. Blanch pork bones in boiling water for 5 mins. Rinse and set aside.
  2. Cut the bitter gourd in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Cut the bitter gourd into large chunks. Rub a small amount of salt on the bitter gourd and then rinse off the salt with water. This helps to reduce the bitter taste of bitter gourd.
  3. Put water in a pot and bring to a boil. Then add blanched pork ribs, red dates, carrots and bitter gourd chunks. When the water comes to a boil again, lower heat and simmer for about an hour.
  4. At the last 15 mins before you turn off the flame, add in the soaked goji berries. Serve.

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