Ginisang Ampalaya

Bitter Melon, bitter gourd, ampalaya: This tropical plant which goes by many names, is commonly grown for its edible fruit, which is probably among the most bitter of all vegetables on earth.

The plant's fruit truly lives up to its name, because it really tastes bitter. Although the seeds, leaves, and vines of this fruit have different uses, the fruit is considered as the safest and most predominantly used part of the plant in traditional herbal medicine.

Bitter gourd has been noted to be a potent herbal medicine for a lot of ailments, particularly in treating diabetes.

The Philippine variety is known for its more potent anti-diabetic components.

Ingredients:

3 medium size amapalaya or bitter melon
1 crushed clove of garlic
1 sliced onion
3 diced tomatoes
4 eggs, beaten
some salt or patis (fish sauce) and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Slice ampalaya or bitter melon thinly ( put in a bowl with water to lessen the bitter taste )
2. In a pan, saute garlic, onion, and tomatoes until the tomatoes have juiced out. While doing this, add some patis (fish sauce), or salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add ampalaya and 1/2 cup of water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4. When ampalaya is quite tender, stir in the beaten eggs and cook for another 5 minutes. Then it's ready to be served.

* Do not over cooked the vegetable so it will still have a distinct crunchy taste when you eat.