Greetings!
When it comes to vegetables not everybody likes bitter gourd because of its bitter taste especially kids and teens, parents will have a hard time convincing a kid or a teen into eating this kind of vegetable.
As for me, when I was young (a kid) I also do not like bitter gourd at all because of its bitter taste. It is not until in my late teens that I started to like bitter gourd.
And one of my most favorite bitter gourd dish is "Ginisang Ampalaya na may Itlog at Kamatis". It is a very delicious dish where the bitterness is almost unnoticeable (depending on cooking).
I came to know this dish through my father which he is frequently cooking when I was young because he used to plant bitter gourd in our backyard and we lots of chicken which lays eggs all year long.
I can still remember the frequent line of my father when he is convincing me to eat bitter gourd particularly "Ginisang Ampalaya na may Itlog at Kamatis" which goes like this... "This is delicious, have some, you'll like".
By the way, we call Bitter Gourd as "Ampalaya" (Tagalog) and "Parya" in Ilocano. Ilocano is our local dialect and Tagalog is our national dialect.
And we call egg as "Itlog", tomato is "Kamatis", and Sauteed as "Ginisa". Hence the name "Ginisang Ampalaya na may Itlog at Kamatis".
The secret of this dish is on the tomatoes, as we all know tomatoes make lots of dishes very delicious, spaghetti with meatballs anyone?
You can definitely add more tomatoes if you want, the more tomatoes the more and delicious it becomes.
Also, you can add more eggs if you want or according to your preference. As for me, I prefer more eggs and more tomatoes.
So, without further ado, here's how I prepare and cook this very delicious dish.
By the way, you can definitely use any type or variety of bitter gourd, be it short or long, it's your choice.
- Bitter Gourd
- Egg
- Tomatoes
- Salt (to taste)
- Cooking Oil
Clean and slice the bitter gourd into strips
Wash and slice the tomatoes into half (you can definitely slice the tomatoes any way you want)
Peel and slice the garlic
Peel and slice the onion
Beat the eggs
1. Sautee the onion and the garlic into a small amount of cooking oil
2. Add the tomatoes
3. Add about one-half cup of water then stir until you get this consistency or if the tomatoes become saucy
4. Add the bitter gourd (IMPORTANT: Do not stir the bitter gourd as if you are sauteeing, you just need to flip it just like flipping a burger patty, again do not stir just like you are sauteeing, or else the bitterness of the bitter gourd will come out)
5. When the bitter gourd is about to be cooked add the beaten egg. Again, do not stir, just flip just like you are frying a burger patty.
6. When you got this consistency it is done
