Ma-rek chien poan moan.
(Bitter melon cake.)

Egg and bitter melon omelet is delicious Khmer Krom country food.

Ingredients :

3 Cups water

¼ Teaspoon salt

1 Large bitter melon, cut in half,removed seeds and sliced thin

4 Eggs, beaten

3 Stalks green onion, chopped

2 Tablespoons fish sauce

1 Teaspoon sugar

¼ Teaspoon black pepper

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

2 Cloves garlic, minced

Procedures :

Put water in a soup pot, cook till water bubbling.

Add salt and bitter melon, stirs and cook it for 2 minutes, do not over cook bitter melon, drained and set a side. This process for get rid most bitter taste, but if you prefer bitter taste, skip this part.

In a large bowl, put eggs with green onion, fish sauce, sugar and black pepper, mix well and set it a side.

Heat up a non-stick skillet or wok in high temperature.

When skillet is hot, add oil, garlic and bitter melon, stirs well.

Pour eggs mixture over, swirled skillet around so that the egg mixture coated evenly, covered skillet with lid and turns temperature to low, cook till bottom side golden brown.

When one bottom side cooked and the top still mushy, put a large plate on skillet, hold the bottom of plate tightly, pick up skillet and flip it over. Put the skillet down and gently slide cake with un-cook side down on skillet, cook till it golden brown.

Serve hot with rice along with sweet fish sauce.

NOTE: Back home, most Khmer Krom uses charcoal stoves for cooking so all we have to do is put some hot charcoals on top the lid, and that would cook both side nicely without having to turns cake.