Original: English

Pork and Bitter Melon Stir-Fry with Black Pepper

This pork and bitter melon stir-fry is perfect for beating summer fatigue. The nutrient-rich bitter melon is pre-treated to neutralize its bitterness, and the pork is made juicy with mayonnaise. The tangy, black pepper-infused sauce will whet your appetite. This exquisite recipe is easy to make in just three steps and is a delightful dish for the summer.

📖Cooking Basics

dry（tantanmen）

Steps

Cut the bitter melon in half lengthwise, then in half again lengthwise.
🕒 01:49
Scoop out the seeds and pith from the bitter melon using a spoon.
🕒 02:11
Slice the bitter melon thinly. Thicker bitter melons can be cut straight. [Key Tip!] Thin slicing reduces bitterness and allows it to cook quickly. The goal is to make it more palatable by neutralizing the bitterness, not to eliminate it completely.
🕒 03:01
Place the thinly sliced bitter melon in a bowl, add 1 pinch of salt and 2 pinches of sugar, and massage thoroughly until the bitter melon becomes moist.
🕒 04:53
Let the massaged bitter melon sit for about 5 minutes. [Key Tip!] Massaging with salt and sugar helps neutralize the bitterness through osmosis, adding a mild sweetness.
🕒 05:42
Place the thinly sliced pork in a large bowl and cut it into bite-sized pieces using kitchen shears.
🕒 05:56
Lightly separate the cut pork pieces and coat them well with 2 tsp of Cooking Sake (Rice Wine), 2 tsp of Mayonnaise, and 1/2 tsp of Potato Starch. [Key Tip!] Adding mayonnaise acts as a substitute for egg white, keeping the pork juicy and preventing it from drying out. Potato starch also helps the sauce adhere better.
🕒 06:59
In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients: 1 tbsp of Vinegar, 2 tsp of Cooking Sake (Rice Wine), 2 tsp of Soy Sauce, 2 tsp of Sugar, and plenty of Black Pepper. Mix quickly to emulsify. [Key Tip!] Use about three times the amount of black pepper you'd normally think of for an exquisite, punchy flavor that pairs perfectly with rice.
🕒 08:10
Heat a frying pan over low to medium heat and add a little Sesame Oil.
🕒 09:38
Once the oil is warm, add the bitter melon that was massaged with salt and sugar without draining it.
🕒 09:51
Stir-fry the bitter melon until it becomes tender.
🕒 10:35
Turn off the heat and transfer the stir-fried bitter melon to a bowl. Do not wipe the frying pan.
🕒 11:59
Place the prepared pork into the un-wiped frying pan while the heat is off.
🕒 12:12
Turn the frying pan to low to medium heat and cook slowly, breaking up the pork with chopsticks as it cooks. [Key Tip!] Because the pork is coated with mayonnaise, it won't stick even without oil and will remain juicy.
🕒 12:31
Stir-fry until the pork is no longer pink.
🕒 13:43
Return the stir-fried bitter melon to the pan and mix with the pork to allow the pork's flavor to coat the bitter melon.
🕒 14:06
Make a space on the side of the frying pan, re-mix the combined sauce ingredients to ensure the sugar is not settled, and then add it to the pan.
🕒 14:31
Tilt the frying pan slightly and bring the sauce to a boil to thicken it and evaporate the alcohol.
🕒 14:47
Once everything is boiling, stir quickly to coat the ingredients with the sauce.
🕒 15:00
Serve on a plate to complete the dish.
🕒 15:46