Introduction to Medicinal Diet
Bitter Melon and Crucian Carp Soup (Momordica charantia – Carassius auratus Soup) is a classic seasonal medicinal diet widely popular in the Lingnan region, especially cherished during the height of summer. This soup harmoniously blends the mild bitterness and refreshing quality of bitter melon with the sweet, savory richness of crucian carp, creating a layered, lingering flavor profile. Bitter melon, also known as “cool melon” (liáng guā), becomes mellow after simmering, while the crucian carp provides tender flesh and a full-bodied broth—the two ingredients complement each other perfectly.
From the perspective of Chinese medicinal cuisine, Bitter Melon and Crucian Carp Soup is not merely about achieving a balance of flavors; it embodies profound wisdom in Traditional Chinese Medicine health preservation. It skillfully combines the “clear and drain” property of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) with the “tonify and supplement” effect of crucian carp (Carassius auratus), creating a nourishing dish that simultaneously clears and tonifies, integrating medicine into food. This soup, passed down through generations among households, is not only a delicious staple on family tables but also a time-honored dietary remedy for many families coping with summerheat and dampness.
Medicinal Diet Efficacy
The overall effects of Bitter Melon and Crucian Carp Soup center on “clearing heat and relieving summerheat, strengthening the spleen and draining dampness.” During hot summer months or when the body is affected by summerheat-dampness, consuming this soup can effectively clear internally accumulated heat toxin, alleviate irritability and thirst caused by summerheat, and address symptoms such as scanty dark urine. At the same time, it helps transform and drain excess dampness from the body, improving sensations of heaviness and discomfort, as well as poor appetite.
Furthermore, this soup also provides a supplementary effect of nourishing yin and moistening dryness. Crucian carp is rich in high-quality protein and various amino acids, which help nourish yin and blood, offering positive support for improving yin deficiency symptoms such as dry skin and dry mouth and throat. For individuals with elevated blood sugar or a tendency toward diabetes, the bitter melon’s unique components, such as bitter melon saponins, assist in regulating glucose metabolism. Therefore, moderate consumption of crucian carp and bitter melon soup is also beneficial for auxiliary blood sugar control.
The role of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Properties, Flavors, Meridian Tropism and Synergistic Effects
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), cold in nature, bitter in flavor, enters the Heart, Spleen, and Lung channels. Its core actions are to clear heat and dispel summer-heat, brighten the eyes and resolve toxins. According to TCM theory, “bitter substances can drain, dry, and harden.” The bitterness of bitter melon precisely clears and drains heart fire and lung heat, providing good relief for heat-toxin patterns such as red, swollen, painful eyes, as well as sores, abscesses, and toxic swellings. Its cold nature makes it especially effective at clearing and resolving summer-heat pathogens.
Crucian carp (Carassius auratus) is neutral in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the Spleen (SP), Stomach (ST), and Large Intestine (LI) meridians. Its core actions are to fortify the Spleen and harmonize the Stomach, promote urination to reduce edema, and unblock the vessels to promote lactation. Crucian carp is balanced in nature, neither cold nor hot; it can both tonify the qi of the Spleen and Stomach and facilitate the metabolism of water-dampness. It is highly beneficial for regulating conditions such as Spleen and Stomach deficiency, edema, and urinary difficulty. When Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is combined with crucian carp, one clears while the other tonifies. The cold and cool nature of bitter melon is tempered by the sweet and neutral nature of crucian carp, thus avoiding excessive bitter-cold from damaging the Spleen and Stomach. At the same time, the tonifying effect of crucian carp provides the body with energy, allowing heat to be cleared without harming the upright qi, and tonification without promoting dampness. This achieves an excellent effect of “combining clearing and tonifying.”
Suitable Population
This soup is especially suitable for people who commonly experience irritability, excessive thirst with a desire to drink, yellowish and scanty urine, and poor appetite during hot summer weather. For young individuals who frequently stay up late, endure high work pressure, and are prone to heat-induced acne, as well as middle-aged and elderly people with a tendency toward hypertension or hyperlipidemia, moderate consumption of bitter melon and crucian carp soup can effectively clear Fire and reduce lipids.
Furthermore, for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus or abnormal glucose metabolism, Bitter Melon and Crucian Carp Soup is an ideal adjuvant dietary therapy. It helps control blood sugar while supplementing nutrition with the high-quality protein from crucian carp, thereby strengthening the constitution. For mild edema, difficult urination, or yellow, thick vaginal discharge in women due to Damp-Heat Pouring Downward, this soup also offers beneficial dietary therapeutic value.
Contraindications
Individuals with **Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold pattern** should use bitter melon with caution or avoid it altogether. Those who typically experience aversion to cold in the abdomen, aversion to raw and cold foods, loose stools, and a pale tongue with a white coating may find that bitter melon, being cold in nature, exacerbates the deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach, potentially causing diarrhea or stomach pain. Pregnant women should also take note: certain active constituents in bitter melon (*Momordica charantia*) have a mild stimulating effect on the uterus. As a safety precaution, pregnant women should avoid or consume only small amounts.
Patients with hypotension should avoid excessive consumption. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) has a certain auxiliary antihypertensive effect; for those with already low blood pressure, heavy intake may aggravate symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue. Additionally, women during their menstrual period—especially those experiencing dysmenorrhea or presenting with dark menstrual blood containing clots—should temporarily avoid this cold-natured soup to prevent inducing or worsening dysmenorrhea. Children, whose spleen and stomach are delicate, should also refrain from overconsumption.
Ingredient Formula Ratio
Main ingredient: 1 fresh crucian carp (Carassius auratus) (approximately 350–400 g), preferably one with a plump body and intact scales.
Supplementary ingredients: 1 fresh bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) (approximately 200–250 g), preferably with bright green skin and full bumps. 3 slices of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) (approximately 10 g), 1 small segment of green onion (Allium fistulosum) (approximately 15 g), 5 g of goji berries (Lycium barbarum).
Seasonings: salt (to taste, about 2-3 grams, adjust according to personal preference), cooking wine (5 ml), a pinch of white pepper, cooking oil (10 ml).
Preparation Method
Preparation
First, kill the crucian carp, remove the scales, gills, and internal organs. Thoroughly clean off the black membrane inside the belly, and pat dry with paper towels. Make three diagonal cuts on each side of the fish, then rub with a small amount of cooking wine and ginger slices. Marinate for 10 minutes to remove any fishy odor.
Second step: Cut the bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and the white pith membrane (the main source of bitterness), then slice into half-moon shapes about 0.5 cm thick. Slice the ginger (Zingiber officinale) and cut the scallion (Allium fistulosum) into sections. Set aside.
Cooking process
Step 3: Pour cooking oil into the wok and heat to approximately 60% (medium-high). Add the crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and fry over medium-low heat until both sides are golden brown and set. Do not be in a hurry to turn the fish; wait until one side is completely fried before flipping. This ensures the skin remains intact and does not break easily.
Step 4: Add enough boiling water (about 1500 ml) to the pot, then add sliced ginger (Zingiber officinale) and scallion segments (Allium fistulosum). Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off any foam, then reduce to medium heat and simmer for 15 minutes until the soup becomes milky white and rich.
Step five: Add the sliced bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) into the soup and continue to cook over medium heat for 8–10 minutes, until the bitter gourd becomes tender while retaining its bright green color. Finally, add the goji berries (Lycium barbarum), season with salt and white pepper, stir well, then turn off the heat and serve.
Drinking Tips
First, it is recommended to consume one small bowl (approximately 200-300 ml) half an hour before meals or one hour after meals, 2-3 times per week. This soup is relatively cold-natured in property; it should not be consumed in large quantities on an empty stomach to avoid irritating the gastrointestinal tract.
Second, to preserve the refreshing flavor and active constituents of bitter melon (Momordica charantia), the cooking time after adding it to the pot should not be too long—8 to 10 minutes is optimal. Boiling for too long will cause the bitter melon to become overly soft, turn yellow, and compromise both its texture and nutritional value. When consuming the soup, it is recommended to eat the bitter melon together with the fish to ensure a more comprehensive nutrient intake.
Thirdly, this soup emphasizes its natural flavor; salt should be used sparingly, as excessive saltiness will mask the soup’s natural sweetness and impair its heat-clearing effect. If additional flavor is desired, add a few drops of lemon juice or rice vinegar before serving—this will enhance freshness while also counteracting some of the cold nature. For those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency, add two slices of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) or a small piece of tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) during simmering to strengthen the effect of warming the Middle and harmonizing the Stomach.