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Balsam-pear pods

Balsam-pear pods are immature, ridged bitter-melon fruits used as vegetables in stir-fries, stews or stuffed preparations, with distinctly bitter crisp flesh.

Balsam-pear pods — illustrative ingredient image

About Balsam-pear pods

Balsam-pear pods are the immature, ridged fruits of bitter melon, used as a vegetable. They may be cooked in stir-fries, stews, or stuffed preparations; the term “pod” refers to the fruit, not a separate seed pod.

The fruit is typically green, elongated, and warty or ridged, with crisp flesh and a distinctly bitter flavour. It can be used young or at later stages of maturity, when colour and bitterness change; fresh and preserved forms also differ in texture and flavour.

Ingredient type
other

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Where balsam-pear pods appears

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Local names for balsam-pear pods

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

bitter melon

English

raw balsam-pear pods

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Balsam-pear pods nutrition & diet

Balsam-pear pods nutritional value

Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded USDA food form.

Calories
17kcal
Protein
1.0g
Carbs
3.7g
Fat
0.2g

Reference values for the displayed USDA form. Varieties, brands and preparation can differ.

Maturity, removal of seeds, and fresh versus preserved preparation affect the edible portion and measured composition; compare like forms.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, raw ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .