Karela
This bumpy orange or green squash is somewhat alarming-looking, and the flesh is laced with quinine, giving it an its alternate name of bitter melon or bitter squash. Accordingly, it’s usually cooked with brown sugar to allay the extreme flavor—though many find the bitterness an attractive quality, and the vegetable is often paired with lamb or goat in Pakistani cooking, and also used extensively in Chinese cuisine.
Kiwano melon
It may look like something from outer space (and, in fact, it once made an appearance on Star Trek), but the Kiwano melon is actually grown in Southern Africa, California and New Zealand. Nicknamed the “horned melon,” its yellow, stubby exterior encases a bright green, jelly-like fruit with edible seeds. The fruit has a citrusy flavor that some liken to a mix of cucumber, lime and