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.
horned melon; kiwano; African horned cucumber; jelly 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.