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Chinese Soybean and Bitter Melon Soup (Huáng Dòu Kǔ Guā Tāng,)

🍵 Chinese Soybean and Bitter Melon Soup (Huáng Dòu Kǔ Guā Tāng, )


This traditional Chinese soup is light, nutritious, and slightly bitter in taste. It is especially popular in southern China, where bitter melon is valued for its cooling properties and believed to help reduce heat, clear toxins, and aid digestion. The combination of soybeans and bitter melon creates a refreshing broth with a unique balance of bitterness and nutty sweetness.

🛒 Ingredients

  • Dried soybeans: 100 g (about ½ cup)

  • Bitter melon: 1 large (about 300–400 g)

  • Pork ribs or lean pork: 300 g (optional, for richer flavor)

  • Dried dates (红枣, hóng zǎo): 3–4 (optional, for natural sweetness)

  • Dried tangerine peel (陈皮, chén pí): 1 small piece (optional, for fragrance)

  • Ginger: 3 slices

  • Salt: to taste

  • Water: about 2 liters

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1. Prepare the Soybeans

  1. Rinse the dried soybeans thoroughly.

  2. Soak them in water for 4–6 hours or overnight until softened.

  3. Drain and set aside.

Step 2. Prepare the Bitter Melon

  1. Wash the bitter melon and cut it lengthwise.

  2. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and white pith.

  3. Slice into half-moon shapes, about 0.5 cm thick.

    • (Tip: To reduce bitterness, you can sprinkle a little salt over the slices, let them sit for 10 minutes, then rinse before cooking.)

Step 3. Prepare the Meat (Optional)

  1. Rinse the pork ribs or lean pork.

  2. Blanch in boiling water for 3–5 minutes to remove impurities.

  3. Drain and set aside.

Step 4. Start the Soup

  1. In a large soup pot, add about 2 liters of water.

  2. Add the soaked soybeans, blanched pork ribs (if using), ginger slices, red dates, and tangerine peel.

  3. Bring to a boil over high heat.

  4. Skim off any foam on the surface.

Step 5. Simmer the Soup

  1. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer.

  2. Cover and cook for 1 hour.

  3. Add the sliced bitter melon and continue simmering for another 30 minutes.

Step 6. Season and Serve

  1. Add salt to taste.

  2. Serve hot, with both the soup and the tender soybeans/bitter melon enjoyed together.

🍴 Tips

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the pork ribs and use only soybeans and bitter melon. The soup will still be flavorful.

  • Adding red dates balances the bitterness with a touch of sweetness.

  • Bitter melon should not be overcooked; it tastes best when slightly firm and not mushy.

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