BITTER MELON CHIPS

Making bitter melon chips is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy the unique flavor of bitter melon. Here’s a simple recipe to prepare bitter melon chips:

Ingredients

2 medium-sized bitter melons
2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil of your choice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional seasonings (such as paprika, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper) for added flavor

Instructions:

Prep the Bitter Melon:

Wash the bitter melons thoroughly.
Slice the bitter melons into thin, uniform rounds, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. You can use a knife or a mandoline slicer for even slices.
Remove the seeds from the center of each slice, as they can be quite bitter.

Soak in Saltwater (Optional):

To reduce the bitterness, soak the bitter melon slices in a bowl of saltwater for about 30 minutes. Use 1-2 tablespoons of salt for every 4 cups of water. After soaking, rinse the slices thoroughly and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Season the Slices:

Place the dried bitter melon slices in a mixing bowl.
Drizzle olive oil over the slices, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. You can also add optional seasonings for extra flavor, such as paprika, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper.

Toss and Coat:

Toss the bitter melon slices in the bowl to ensure they are evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.

Arrange on Baking Sheets:

Line one or more baking sheets with parchment paper.
Arrange the seasoned bitter melon slices in a single layer on the baking sheets, ensuring they don’t overlap.

Bake:

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the chips become crisp and start to brown around the edges. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.

Cool and Serve:

Once the chips are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes.
Serve the bitter melon chips as a healthy snack or a side dish.