Bitter gourd is popular in Chinese cooking. Simple and comforting dish, braised bitter gourd with pork belly in salted black beans.
Benefits:
- High in Vitamin C & A
- Weight Loss
- Skin benefits
- Diabetic
- Liver (detox)
- Increase Immunity
- Lower Cholesterol
Cut bitter gourd into half/quarter. Use a spoon to scrape out seeds. Then, slice bitter gourd into 3-4mm thickness.
Ingredients : (serves 3)
200g Pork Belly
90g Bitter Gourd - cut into 3-4mm thickness
5-6 slices Ginger
1 tbsp Salted Black Beans - lightly chopped
1 tbsp Cooking Oil
1/2 tsp Salt (marinate bittergourd)
100ml Water
Marinate :
1/2 tsp Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Dash of White Pepper
1/4 tsp Shao Xing wine
1/4 tsp Light Soy Sauce
1/4 tsp Sesame Oil
1/4 tsp Corn Starch
Seasoning :
1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
1/2 tsp Light Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Dark Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp Corn Starch mix with some water (slurry)
Step by Step:
1. Cut pork belly into thin slices. Marinate for about 1 hour.
2. Marinate bitter gourd with salt for 15 mins. Then squeeze to drain away the excess water. This step reduces the bitterness in the bitter gourd. Set aside.
3. Heat up cooking oil in a pan & saute ginger till fragrant.
4. Add in black beans & saute for about 30 seconds & aromatic.
5. Add in pork belly & lightly pan fry for about 3 minutes until almost cook.
6. Then, put in bitter gourd & stir fry for about 1 mins.
7. Add water & seasoning (except slurry) to the pork belly. Stir evenly & cover with lid for about 5 mins on medium heat. Stirring few times in between cooking time.
8. Stir in corn starch slurry to thicken the sauce.
9. Dish up & ready to serve. Serve with hot steamed rice.
Happy Cooking.