Bitter Gourd with Beef Recipe

Bitter Gourd with Beef Recipe

5/12 lb tender beef

1 bitter gourd (bitter melon)

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 red chili peppers

Marinade Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Seasonings:

1 tablespoon soy sauce

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine

½ tablespoon sugar

½ tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons of water

Method:

Cut beef into slices and marinate with the marinade ingredients for about 10 minutes.  Rinse well the bitter gourd and halve it lengthwise.  After bitter gourd is opened - do not wash it anymore, instead use a spoon to thoroughly scrape away the inner flesh before slicing.  This will make the bitter gourd taste crunchier.  Cut halved bitter gourd horizontally into 1-cm thick slices.  Halve chili peppers, discard seeds and cut diagonally into sections.  Blanch beef through smoking oil rapidly and remove.  Blanch bitter gourd through the oil rapidly and remove.  Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to stir-fry minced garlic until fragrant.  Add bitter gourd and beef as well as red chili pepper and seasonings.  Sauté rapidly over high heat until evenly mixed and remove.  Serve.

Note:  Select bitter gourd with coarse lumps on surface, as it is less bitter.  Blanch through oil first to give the bitter gourd a smooth texture.