Steamed Stuffed Bittergourd with Minced Pork ~ 酿苦瓜

If you are a fan of Bittergourd 苦瓜 like me, you will relish this dish. This is a nutritious, easy to cook Chinese dish which you can easily prepare at home using 'sections of bittergourd stuffed with seasoned minced pork. The gourd will be soft after steaming but it is still firm in texture and there's the juicy broth for you to go with rice.

Steamed Stuffed Bittergourd with Minced Pork  ~  酿苦瓜 
Ingredients

• 160 gm minced pork
• 40 gm shitake mushrooms, hydrated, stemmed and diced
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 medium size bittergourd

Seasoning for the minced pork

• 2 tsp oyster sauce
• 2 tsp Shaoxing wine
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp light soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tsp cornflour
• 1/4 tsp sugar and 1/4 tsp salt
• Dash of pepper

Method

1. Cut the bittergourd into 3/4 inch sections.  Scoop out the seeds, place the bittergourds in a bowl rub with some salt and set aside for about 20 mins.  (This is to extract some bitterness from gourds.)
2. Meanwhile season the minced pork with the above sauces, mix well to form a paste.
3. Drain out the juice from the bittergourd, rinse and pat dry.
4. Stuff the minced pork paste into the bittergourd, right up to the top.
5. Arrange them on a steaming plate.
6. Bring a steamer to a boil, steam the stuffed bittergourd for about 25 mins. depending on how soft you want the texture to be.
7. Garnish with chopped spring onions and chillies.  Serve immediately.
8. Yield :  6 pieces