Refers to the plant Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd. In Japanese cuisine, it is often used in stir-fries and salads, especially in Okinawan dishes.
See also: ツルレイシ
In Okinawa, they often eat bitter melon.
Some people dislike the bitterness of bitter melon.
It is usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be recognized by all readers; the kana form is strongly preferred.
Compound of 苦 (にが, 'bitter') and 瓜 (うり, 'gourd, melon'). The reading にがうり is a straightforward combination of the kun'yomi readings of the kanji.