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Eric forwarded me an email with even more bitter gourd or bitter melon recipes. We are really not big fans, however it’s summer time, the weather is getting really hot. We know bitter melon is definitely one of the vegetables that could help to cool down your internal body heat. In fact it is very beneficial to your liver and stomach digestion, as well as high level of vitamin C. My coworker even taught me to blend bitter melon juice with honey for a nice cooling drink which is pretty good. I was thinking to make the drink but Eric doesn’t like it, so instead I tried one of the recipe he requested, which is the Steamed Stuffed Minced Pork with Bitter Melon (蒸苦瓜釀肉).

This recipe is similar to one of the Chinese Hakka recipe of Stuffed Tofu and other vegetables (釀豆腐), except this recipe uses only minced pork and it is steamed to cook. Basically this is an easy recipe, just mix and marinate the minced pork, then stuff it into the melon pieces and steam. The bitter melon are crisp, bitter yet so refreshing with just the natural sweet broth from the minced pork itself, no other seasoning is added.  If you like, you can always make a dipping sauce with soy sauce or soy sauce paste, sugar and few drips of sesame oil, add some chili and minced garlic if desired.

For other Bitter melon recipes, check here.

Ingredients:

2 medium to large bitter melons (trimmed end, cut into 2″ round pieces, take out seeds)
1/2 ground pork
2 mushrooms (soaked, chopped)
1/2 carrot (chopped)
1/2 regular tofu
3 slices ginger (minced)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 medium onion (chopped)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine
Few drips of sesame oil
1/4 tsp salt and pepper
1 tbsp cornstarch

Cooking Method:

1. Marinate the ground pork with soy sauce, wine, cornstarch, salt and pepper for up to 30 minutes.
2. Combine tofu with ground pork, mashed to mix. Add in other ingredients such as minced ginger, garlic, onion and carrot. Mix well.
3. Stuff mixed pork into bitter melon pieces, place it on a platter. Repeat with others.
4. Steam on medium high heat for around 20-30 minutes.
5. Eat with the natural sweet broth, or make an easy dipping sauce if desired.