Build-your-own Recipe Book: July 22 – 30, 2005

Bitter Melon Week was a food festival devoted to Bitter Melon that occurred in the South End neighborhood of Boston, MA. The NBMC invited as many restaurants and food businesses in that (that we could convince!) to participate by creating and serving a dish using the featured, locally grown vegetable -- Bitter Melon.

We began preparing for Bitter Melon Week during the Spring and early Summer of 2005. During this time, Bitter Melon became an unlikely buzzword among the food establishments in the neighborhood. After a multitude of tastes, grimaces, cajoling and conversation with restaurant chefs, managers, servers, and staff, Bitter Melon Week was executed. From July 22-30, 2005, we boasted 14 restaurant partners, a complete assemble-your-own Bitter Melon Week Recipe Book and an unknown (untold?) amount of adventurous eaters supporting the restaurants and community.

Build-your-own Recipe Book:
Bitter Melon Week did not stop with 14 restaurants and their tasty Bitter Melon dishes. With the hope of raising awareness about the bitter gourd, to provide alternative method of garnering support for the local small businesses, and to sponsor a new way for locals and visitors to tour the South End Neighborhood, we created the Build-your-own Bitter Melon Recipe Book. Interested participants could pick up a front and back cover and a silver clasp from the Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts and view a map of the neighborhood marking each of the restaurant locations.

They could then go to each restaurant, try the dish, and then take the recipe card home. Or they could simply stop by the restaurants to collect recipe cards for free. We hoped that this would bring a new community in to each establishment; people could enter the 4-star restaurant Hamersley’s Bistro just as easily as they could the corner deli Kosmos Market, and by touring each spot they could see first hand the many faces of the diverse South End neighborhood.

Recipe books are on sale through the NBMC. You can purchase your own complete copy for $10. If you would like a copy, please email the NBMC at info@bittermelon.org.

Submit your own recipe!

Click on a recipe's name to get the full recipe.

  • delight.jpg

    Bitter Melon Delight

    Submitted by: House of Siam 542 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 267-1755
    Ingredients:

    1 Bitter Melon (seeded and sliced)
    2 Eggs
    3-4 pieces of Bacon
    ½ tsp. Garlic
    1 tsp. thin Soy Sauce
    Pepper

    bitter
  • wrap.jpg

    Bitter Melon, Gorgonzola and Cranberry Wrap

    Submitted by: Kosmos Market 683 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 236-4480
    Ingredients:

    Bitter Melon (sliced)
    Mixed Greens
    Dried Cranberries
    Gorgonzola Cheese (crumbled)
    Kiwi (sliced)
    Walnuts
    Raspberry Vinaigrette
    Flour Wrap

    bitter
  • polka.jpg

    BitterSweets

    Submitted by: Polka Dog Bakery 256 Shawmut Avenue, South End, Boston (617) 338-5155
    Ingredients:

    Bitter Melon
    Fresh Peaches
    Local Unfiltered Honey
    Bee Pollen
    Natural Spices

  • 242530460_315d61475d.jpg

    Citrus Bitter Melon Sangria

    Submitted by: Andi Sutton
    Ingredients:

    4 bottles white wine
    1 c. dry gin
    2 c. Sparkling lemon-lime drink (Schwepps Limon or Limonata)
    1 Bitter Melon: Seeded and chopped into ½ in. squares
    4 lemons: Sliced and cut into small triangles
    3 oranges: Sliced and cut into small triangles
    2 grapefruits: Sliced and cut into small triangles
    4 limes: Sliced and cut into small triangles
    1 c. sugar

    bitterer
  • B+G.jpg

    Coconut and Bitter Melon Soup with Rock Shrimp and Mango Salsa

    Submitted by: B&G Oysters LTD 550 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 423-0550
    Ingredients:

    Soup
    4 Bitter Melons
    1 Spanish Onion
    2 Celery Stalks
    2 Leeks (white stalk)
    2-8 oz. cans of Coconut Milk
    3 qt. Vegetable Stock
    1 tblsp. Green Curry Paste
    Salt
    White Pepper

    Salsa
    2 lbs Rock Shrimp
    2 Scallions
    2 Shallots
    1 Ripe Mango
    6 Sprigs of Cilantro
    3 Juiced Limes

    bitter
  • hamersley.jpg

    Curried Bitter Melon Risotto

    Submitted by: Hamersley’s Bistro 553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116 (617) 423-2700
    Ingredients:

    1 Bitter Melon, cut into small cubes
    ½ tsp. salt
    5-6 c. vegetable stock or water
    1 c. dry sherry
    Pinch of Saffron
    3 tblsp. Olive Oil
    5 tblsp. Butter
    1 small Onion
    1 ½ tblsp. Curry Powder
    3 Cloves of Garlic
    1 ½ c. Aborio rice
    Pepper
    2 tblsp. Cilantro leaves, chopped
    2 tblsp. Mint, chopped
    ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese

  • Lamb Curry, Minted Peas, Creamy Basmati Rice & Bitter Melon-Mango Pickle

    Submitted by: Perdix 560 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 338-8070
    Ingredients:

    5 Bitter Melon, seeded
    1 Semi-ripe Mango, sliced
    Juices of 2 Limes
    ½ c. Peeled grated Ginger
    3 Cloves Garlic, sliced
    4 Red jalapenos, sliced
    2 tsp. prepared grainy Mustard
    3 tblsp. Brown Mustard Seed
    ½ c. Vegetable Oil

    bitter

  • Pickled Bitter Melon Mediterranean Wrap

    Submitted by: Corner Café 502 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 536-9700
    Ingredients:

    4 Bitter Melon (sliced)
    2 c. White Vinegar
    ½ c. Water
    2 tsp. Salt
    3 tblsp. Sugar
    2 tblsp. Turmeric
    1 tsp. Black Mustard Seed
    3 tblsp. Coriander Seed
    3 tblsp. Fennel Seed
    2 Cloves Fresh Garlic

    bitter
  • Nicoles.jpg

    Pickled Bitter Melon Pizza

    Submitted by: Nicole’s Pizza 639 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 266-0223
    Ingredients:

    1 Bitter Melon (seeded)
    2 c. White Vinegar
    2 tsp. Salt
    3 tblsp. Sugar
    1 tsp. Turmeric
    Pizza Topping of choice
    Mozzarella Cheese
    Pizza Crust

    bitter
  • stuffed pho.jpg

    Pork Stuffed Bitter Melon

    Submitted by: Pho Republique 1415 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 262-0005
    Ingredients:

    2 Bitter Melons
    200 grams Ground Pork
    100 grams Bean Thread
    1 tsp. Chopped Garlic
    ½ tsp. Pepper
    1 tblsp. Chopped Cilantro
    2 ½ tblsp. Thin Soy Sauce
    1 ½ liters Chicken Stock
    Salt

    bitter

  • Roasted Tomato, Jalapeno and Bitter Melon Salsa with Coconut Shrimp

    Submitted by: Café Christopher’s 59 East Springfield Street, Roxbury, MA 02118 (617) 859-0700
    Ingredients:

    Salsa
    1 Bitter Melon
    2-3 tblsp. Olive Oil
    1 Green Onion (diced)
    3 tblsp. Garlic (diced)
    1 lb. Red Tomatoes
    2 Jalapeno Peppers
    3 Cloves Garlic (unpeeled)
    Salt
    1 c. Fresh Cilantro
    1 ½ tsp. Apple Cider

    Shrimp
    1 lb. Shrimp (size 13-15)
    ¼ c. Orange Juice
    1 Egg
    2 c. Flour
    1 tblsp. Baking Powder
    1 tsp. Salt
    1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
    14 oz. Coconut
    2-3 tblsp. Breadcrumbs
    Olive Oil

    bitter

  • Sautéed Bitter Melon with Potato

    Submitted by: Bostonian Market 570 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 27-3109
    Ingredients:

    1 Bitter Melon
    2 Peeled potatoes
    1 Onion
    Salt
    1 tsp. Turmeric

    bitter

  • Som Tum Mara (Bitter Melon Salad)

    Submitted by: Equator 1721 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 536-6386
    Ingredients:

    Bitter Melon (sliced)
    Carrots (shredded)
    Cherry Tomatoes
    Dried Shrimp
    Peanuts
    Thai Hot Chili
    Lime Juice
    Lettuce

    bitter

  • Summertime “G&B”

    Submitted by: The Red Fez 1222 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 338-6060
    Ingredients:

    Bitter Melon Syrup:
    2 Bitter Melons
    1 c. Sugar
    Juice of 1 Lemon

    Cocktail:
    2 oz. Gin
    1 tsp. Bitter Melon Syrup
    Soda Water
    Ice
    1 Lemon Slice
    1 Bitter Melon Slice

  • Tallarin en Salsa Verde con Calabaza China (Linguini in Green Sauce with Fried Bitter Melon)

    Submitted by:
    Ingredients:

    1 Bitter Melon
    Linguine
    Green Sauce:
    Spinach, Basil, Olive Oil, Garlic and Parmesan Cheese
    2 Eggs beaten
    Breadcrumbs
    Salt
    Pepper

    bitter