Canh Khổ Qua (Canh khổ qua nhồi thịt)
Overview
Canh khổ qua is a Vietnamese soup of bitter melon stuffed with pork. Bitter melons are cut into short sections or slit along one side, the seeds are scooped out, and they are filled with minced pork mixed with soaked glass noodles, chopped wood ear mushrooms, shallot, fish sauce and pepper. The stuffed melons are simmered gently in a clear broth made from pork bones or water until tender, and any leftover filling is rolled into small balls and cooked in the broth too. The soup is clear and savoury, with a pleasant bitterness, and it is finished with spring onion and coriander.
History
Stuffed bitter melon soup is especially popular in southern Vietnam, where it is commonly served in summer and is also a traditional dish of Tết, the Lunar New Year. Its bitterness is taken as a reminder of the hardships of the past, and the name khổ qua is often read as hardship passes, a wish that the troubles of the old year are left behind as the new one begins.
Main ingredients
Bitter melon, minced pork, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, fish sauce, spring onion. The soup is built on clear pork broth and is usually served hot. Diet: contains meat; usually gluten-free.
Explore: Pork soups · Noodle soups · More soups from Vietnam
Recipe
Method
- 1
Cut the bitter melons into 4 cm sections and scoop out the seeds.
- 2
Mix the pork with the noodles, mushrooms, shallots, 1 tbsp fish sauce and pepper and fill the melons.
- 3
Bring the stock to the boil, add the stuffed melons and any leftover filling as small balls.
- 425 min
Simmer gently for 25 minutes, until the melon is tender.
- 5
Season with fish sauce and serve with spring onion and coriander.
- ✓
Serve. About 1 h from start to bowl.
Sources
Description, history and recipe written by SoupWiki and checked against the sources above. Calories and times are rough estimates.
