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Cooking Hacks: How to lessen bitterness of ampalaya

By Racquel Quieta
Published February 27, 2020 6:43 PM PHT
Updated February 9, 2026 2:33 PM PHT

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Lessen bitterness of ampalaya


Get the recipes for Crispy Shrimp Ampalaya Dumplings, Baked Ampalaya, and Ginisang Talbos ng Ampalaya HERE:

The ampalaya, also known as bitter gourd or bitter melon, always gets a bad rep for its bitter taste, which comes from an alkaloid compound called quinine. However, once it's mixed with some meat and other veggies, it becomes tolerable and even tasty.

Although many people dislike the taste of ampalaya, it's undeniable that this low calorie and high-fiber vegetable has many health benefits. It's rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamins C and A, iron, potassium, and zinc. Also, it promotes better blood circulation and helps fight diabetes.

So, how can we make ampalaya more appetizing for those who are not into it? Well, first, we must lessen its bitterness. In Pinas Sarap's recent episode, they gave two tips on how to make ampalaya less bitter:

  1. Rub salt in it.
  2. Boil it.

Watch and learn how to lessen the bitter taste of ampalaya and get recipes like Ampalaya Dumplings, Baked Ampalaya, and Ginisang Talbos ng Ampalaya in this episode of Pinas Sarap: