Pickled Green Papaya With Bittermelon

Photo: CeciliaMQ

Ingredients

2 pieces large green papaya, shredded

1 piece bitter melon, julienned (optional)

1 piece red bell pepper, julienned

2 pieces thumb size ginger, julienned

1 piece medium size onion, sliced

8 pieces garlic cloves, sliced thin

1/2 cup raisins

1 tablespoon whole peppercorn

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

3 cups datu puti vinegar

5 tablespoons regular sugar

5 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon rock salt

Preparation

Mix vinegar and regular and brown sugar in a sauce pan. Taste for desired sweet and sour taste. Bring to a quick boil. Remove from heat, add the turmeric for a little color and set aside.

Sprinkle shredded papaya with a teaspoon of rock salt and toss well. After few minutes pour 1 cup of water and squeeze out the juices from the papaya using a cheese cloth. Set aside.

In a deep bowl mix pepper corn, raisins, bell pepper, ginger, onion, garlic, bittermelon, papaya and toss well.

Lastly: Pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables. Toss well. Let it stand at least overnight in the fridge before serving.