What’s green, oblong and appears to have warts?  No, it’s not a Wicked Witch of the West costume, it’s bitter melon. Bitter melon looks more like a bumpy cucumber, which is like a cousin in the squash family. This fruit bears it’s name and is quite bitter. While it can be eaten raw, it’s usually cooked and used like a vegetable to reduce some of the bitterness.  

Bitter melon is highly nutritious. It has almost as much potassium as a banana and is an excellent source of vitamins C and A. Some research indicates that bitter melon may help reduce inflammation, and thus reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Use caution if you are eating large amounts of bitter melon or taking bitter melon supplements. It may interfere with some diabetes medications causing blood sugars to dip too low. Also, pregnant women should consult their obstetrician before consuming bitter melon as certain natural chemicals in the melon may harm the baby. 

There are a couple different varieties of bitter melon: Chinese (looks more like a shriveled cucumber) and Indian (is bumpy with pointed ends). They are common in Asian and Indian dishes. Use it in a stir-fry, soup or curry. It’s often stuffed with pork or other protein and veggies. The skin of bitter melon is edible and does not need to be peeled. Removing the seeds and cooking the bitter melon will help lessen the bitterness. If eaten on a salad, many people will boil the melon first.  Store melon in a tightly closed container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.