Bitter Melon and Black Bean Sauce Beef

A classic Chinese dish that can be made with chicken instead of beef. If chicken is used, cooking time will be more depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 141 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon water
• ¾ cup water
• salt to taste
• 2 cloves garlic
• ½ onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon black bean sauce
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
• ice cubes
• 1 pinch white sugar, or to taste
• 1 bitter melon, seeded and sliced
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce, divided
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
• 6 ounces beef, sliced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Fill a bowl with ice; add enough salted water to make an ice bath. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the bitter melon in the boiling water until tender yet firm, about 2 minutes; strain the melon. Place the melon into the ice bath; allow to sit until bitterness is extracted, about 1 hour. Drain melon.

Step 2

Whisk 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and baking soda together in a bowl. Add beef and toss to evenly coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Step 3

Heat wok, or a large skillet, on high until smoking. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Lay beef evenly across the bottom of the wok; cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove beef. Pour in 1 teaspoon of oil; allow to heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in bitter melon; cook until combined, about 1 minute.

Step 4

Stir black bean sauce into melon mixture. Stir in remaining soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Pour in 3/4 cup water; cover and let simmer until flavors combine, 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and mix in remaining cornstarch and 1 teaspoon water and stir until thickened.