Japanese Simmered Bottle Gourd, Okra, and Tofu

This mild mix of bottle gourd, bitter melon, okra, and tofu is an easy Japanese side dish that's simmered in a microwave pressure cooker.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 8 mins
• Total Time: 23 mins
• Calories: 298 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• ½ bitter melon, seeded and thinly sliced crosswise
• 14 ounces fried tofu, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 7 ounces bottle gourd, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
• ½ cup prepared kombu dashi stock
• 8 pods fresh okra, trimmed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place bitter melon slices in a large bowl of water; stir in salt until dissolved. Let soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Combine bitter melon, tofu, and bottle gourd in a microwave-safe pressure cooker.

Step 3

Mix dashi stock, soy sauce, and mirin together in a small bowl; pour over bitter melon mixture. Close pressure cooker according to manufacturers' instructions and cook in the microwave at 600W for 7 minutes.

Step 4

Open pressure cooker and stir in okra. Close and cook until okra is tender, about 1 minute.

Step 5

Transfer bitter melon mixture to a serving plate; garnish with grated ginger.