Recipe for Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup (Canh Khổ Qua Dồn Thịt)
Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup (Canh Khổ Qua Dồn Thịt) is a comforting and nutritious Vietnamese classic that combines tender bitter melon stuffed with a savoury pork and shrimp filling, simmered in a light and aromatic broth. This wholesome dish is perfect for family meals, offering a balance of flavours and textures that’s both satisfying and heartwarming.Please refer to the video instructions at the end of the recipe if you’d like to see how to make Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup in action.
Equipment
- 1 medium or large pot
Ingredients
- 3 medium bitter melons
- 350 grams ground pork
- 100 grams shrimp (peeled)
- 5 grams dried wood ear mushrooms
- 35 grams green onions
- A small bunch of cilantro
- ½ tablespoon fried garlic optional
- For seasoning: Salt, MSG (or chicken bouillon powder), mushroom powder, ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients:Soak the dried wood ear mushrooms in water for about 10 minutes until softened. Drain and set aside.Separate the white part of the green onions and finely chop it. Finely chop half of the cilantro as well. Both will be used to marinate the pork. Roughly chop the remaining green onions and cilantro together and set aside for garnish. Grind the shrimp into a paste and add it to the mixing bowl with the ground pork.Roughly chop the drained wood ear mushrooms and add them to the mixing bowl.Add the chopped green onion and cilantro to the mixing bowl, followed by ½ teaspoon of MSG (or chicken bouillon powder), ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste if needed. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined, then let the meat mixture rest for about 15 minutes to allow the flavours to meld together.Cut each bitter melon into 3-4 pieces of roughly equal length. Remove the seeds and inner pulp, creating a hollow cavity for stuffing.Fill each piece of bitter melon with the prepared meat mixture, pressing gently to pack the filling. Let them rest for about 10 minutes to allow the flavours to settle.
- Cook:Add enough water to a large pot and bring it to a boil.Gently add the stuffed bitter melons to the pot. If there is leftover filling, form it into small meatballs and add them as well.Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface. Season the soup with salt and mushroom powder to taste.Stir in the fried garlic (optional).Lower the heat and let the bitter melons simmer for about 30 minutes or until they reach the desired level of tenderness.
- Serve:Transfer the soup to a serving bowl, then sprinkle it with chopped green onions, cilantro, and a dash of ground black pepper. Serve and enjoy your Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup!