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Stuffed Bitter Melon {Chinese Style Ku Gua Niang Rou 苦瓜酿肉} is a traditional home cooking in Southern China. It features bitter melon, cut into short tubes, filled with juicy and delicious minced pork. Such a perfect way to enjoy this nutritious gourd.
Bitter Melon Fun Facts
Bitter Melon is a gourd native to many locations around the globe, and is especially popular in areas such as Southern China Guang Dong area, India and Vietnam. The gourd gets its name from its bitter taste.
Why Bitter Melon is a superfood vegetable?
Bitter Melon contains loads of essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate, potassium, zinc and iron. It worth mentioning that Bitter Melon contains rich Vitamin C.
Especially, Bitter Melon is well-known for its ability to lower blood sugar. For that reason, people consider bitter melon an alternative medicine to treat diabetes-related conditions.
Read here to learn more about Bitter Melon and how to make it less bitter.
How to prepare Bitter Melon for Stuffed Bitter Melon?
First thing first is to cut bitter melon across into tubes and remove pith
Trim both ends off bitter melon, and then cut across into short tubes, about 1.5 inches tall. Then remove the pith using a small spoon. Scrape to remove pith thoroughly. This is technique #1 to help mitigate bitter melon bitterness.
Second is to marinate the bitter melon with salt
Following that, sprinkle one teaspoonful of salt, either Himalayan pink salt or sea salt, over the bitter melon. Try to massage/scrub the inside of the bitter melon. Then let them rest while you are preparing pork filling. This is technique #2 to mitigate bitter melon bitterness.
After you have made the pork filling, then come back to bitter melon. First rinse the bitter melon thoroughly using cold water. This is to get rid of the bitter juice coming out of the bitter melon, but also to rinse off the excess salt. This is technique #3 to mitigate bitter melon bitterness.
Third is to blanch bitter melon with white vinegar
Please rinse them thoroughly even if you think you can use the extra salt. This is because salt has forced out the bitter juice and you absolutely want to rinse off the bitter juice.
Bring a stockpot of water to boil and then add 1/4 cup of white vinegar along with bitter melon tubes. Blanch for about 1 minute or till it reaches a boil again. This is technique #4 to mitigate bitter melon bitterness. The blanch, coupled with the white vinegar, will further tone down the bitterness.
Remove the bitter melon using a skimmer into a colander and immediately rinse under the running cold water for about 30 seconds. Place the colander onto a plate to drain the water and set aside.
Now the bitter melon is ready for stuffing.
How to make a naturally tasty and juicy pork filling for stuffed bitter melon?
First is to use the right ground pork.
Ideally, we shall use minced pork for the ultimate tasty pork. The pork also needs to contain a certain level of fat for the juiciness. Both can be accomplished easily if you grind the pork at home using either a meat grinder or Stand Mixer meat grinding attachment.
Read here for a detailed guided recipe on how to grind a perfect pork at home.
Second is to marinate and season the pork properly
Marinate the pork with Shaoxing wine, naturally aged soy sauce, light soy sauce, Zhenjiang Vinegar, arrowroot flour, minced green onion and a bit of organic cane sugar.
Then add ginger powder, star anise powder and freshly ground coriander seeds to further season and elevate the taste.
Minced Bian Jian, or salted tender bamboo shoots, adds the contrasting texture and taste, a highlight of the pork filling. You can also use dried shiitake mushrooms instead.
Third is to turn the ground pork along with marinating and seasoning ingredients into juicy pork filling
Use a wooden spatula to breakdown the pork and then turn in the same direction to mix everything together. After that, swiftly turn the spatula continuously until the whole thing turns into a juicy pork paste. Use a mini silicone spatula to scrape off the mixing bowl.
Add 1 tbsp of water at a time while churning the pork to allow the pork to absorb the liquid for the ultimate juiciness. The pork filling needs to be moist, but it can’t be too watery, otherwise it won’t stay well inside the bitter melon well.
How to make a perfect Stuffed Bitter Melon with Minced Pork?
First is to fill the prepared bitter melon tubes with pork filling using a small spoon with pointy end
Hold one bitter melon tube in your left hand, or less dominant hand, while right hand holding a small spoon. Fill the bitter melon tube with the pork filling, using the spoon’s pointy end to push around the edge to contain the pork filling.
Your left hand palm also holds the bottom of the bitter melon so that the pork filling doesn’t just fall through. After you have stuffed one bitter melon tube, then carefully put down on a plate. Repeat this until you have done stuffing all bitter melon tubes.
Second is to pan sear the stuffed Bitter Melon
You will need a quality hard anodized fry-pan. Turn the heat to medium and heat the fry pan for 1 minute. Then add 1/2 tbsp avocado oil or alternative cooking oil, along with sliced ginger, minced garlic and chopped green onion, stir for 10 seconds or till fragrant.
Carefully place the stuffed bitter melon onto the frying pan, one at a time, and let it cook for 2 minutes. Flip the bitter melon using a pair of long chopsticks or kitchen tongs and cook the other side for 2 minutes.
Last but not least is to add 1 cup of boiling water and steam for 15 minutes
Following the pan searing the bitter melon on both sides, pour one cup of boiling water around the edge of the pan, cover with a lid and let it steam for 15 minutes.
After that, flip the bitter melon so that the previous bottom facing up, cover the lid and let it rest for 2 minutes before serving.
All done! Enjoy a nutrious and tasty Stuffed Bitter Melon with Minced Pork.
Like Bitter Melon? Remember to check out these tasty and healthy Bitter Melon Recipes:
Stuffed Bitter Melon {Chinese Ku Gua Niang Rou 苦瓜酿肉}
Stuffed Bitter Melon {Chinese Style Ku Gua Niang Rou 苦瓜酿肉} is a traditional home cooking in Southern China. It features bitter melon, cut into short tubes, filled with juicy and delicious minced pork. Such a perfect way to enjoy this nutritious gourd.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb bitter melon, about 3 bitter melons, using 1 tsp Himalayan pink salt to marinate the bitter melon
- 1/4 cup white vinegar, for blanching the bitter melon
- 1 stalk green onion, chopped
- 1 small piece of ginger, thin sliced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp avoacado oil
For Pork Filling:
- 1/2 lb ground pork, home ground pork preferred
- 1/2 tbsp Shaoxing wine,
- 1.5 tbsp naturally aged soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp Zhenjiang Vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp arrowroot flour
- 1/4 tsp organic cane sugar
- 1/8 tsp tsp star anise powder
- 1/4 tsp coriander seeds powder, freshly ground
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1 stalk green onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp water, room temperature
- 1 Bian Jian {salted tender bamboo shoots}, or 6 dried shiitake mushrooms, fully rehydrated and then chopped into small pieces
Instructions
Prepare Bitter Melon and Other Ingredients Part 1:
- Soak Bian Jian or Shiitake mushooms in plenty of water, at least 3 hours before cooking.
- Trim both ends off bitter melon, and then cut across into short tubes, about 1.5 inches tall. Then remove the pith using a small spoon. Scrape to remove pith thoroughly.
- Sprinkle one teaspoonful of salt, either Himalayan pink salt or sea salt, over the bitter melon. Try to massage/scrub the inside of the bitter melon. Then let them rest while you are preparing pork filling.
Preparation Part 2:
- Rinse Bian Jian or shiitake mushrooms a few times. Chop the Bian Jian into small pieces using a compact grinder.
- After you have made the pork filling, then come back to bitter melon. First rinse the bitter melon thoroughly using cold water.
- Fill a 4 Qt. stockpot with about 80% water and bring it to a boil. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar along with bitter melon tubes. Blanch for about 1 minute or till it reaches a boil again.
- Now the bitter melon is ready for stuffing.
- Use homeground pork if you can. Add the pork into a mixing bowl, along with everything under "For the Pork Filling".
- Use a wooden spatula to breakdown the pork and then turn in the same direction to mix everything together. After that, swiftly turn the spatula continuously until the whole thing turns into a juicy pork paste. Use a mini silicone spatula to scrape off the mixing bowl.
Remove the bitter melon using a skimmer into a colander and immediately rinse under the running cold water for about 30 seconds. Place the colander onto a plate to drain the water and set aside.
Make a juicy tasty pork filling for Stuffed Bitter Melon:
Add 1 tbsp of water while churning the pork to allow the pork to absorb the liquid for the ultimate juiciness. The pork filling needs to be moist, but it can’t be too watery, otherwise it won’t stay well inside the bitter melon well.
Stuff the Bitter Melon:
Hold one bitter melon tube in your left hand, or less dominant hand, while right hand holding a small spoon. Fill the bitter melon tube with the pork filling, using the spoon’s pointy end to push around the edge to contain the pork filling.
Your left hand palm also holds the bottom of the bitter melon so that the pork filling doesn’t just fall through. After you have stuffed one bitter melon tube, then carefully put down on a plate. Repeat this until you have done stuffing all bitter melon tubes.
Pan Sear Stuffed Bitter Melon:
- Turn the heat to medium and heat the fry pan for 1 minute. Then add 1/2 tbsp avocado oil or alternative cooking oil, along with sliced ginger, minced garlic and chopped green onion, stir for 10 seconds or till fragrant.
Carefully place the stuffed bitter melon onto the frying pan, one at a time, and let it cook for 2 minutes. Flip the bitter melon using a pair of long chopsticks or kitchen tongs and cook the other side for 2 minutes.
Steam Stuffed Bitter Melon:
- Following the pan searing the bitter melon on both sides, pour one cup of boiling water around the edge of the pan, cover with a lid and let it steam for 15 minutes.
- After that, flip the bitter melon so that the previous bottom facing up, cover the lid and let it rest for 2 minutes before serving.
All done! Enjoy a nutrious and tasty Stuffed Bitter Melon with Minced Pork.
Notes
Read here on how to make a home ground pork.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 371Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 78mgSodium 870mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 8gSugar 7gProtein 26g
Nutrition calculation is provided by Nutritionix to the best knowledge per ingredients description and isn't always accurate.
