Bitter Melon and Beef Shreds

Name: Bitter Melon and Beef Shreds
Ingredients: 378 g Bitter melon (cut open, remove the pith, and shred); 114 g Beef (washed, patted dry, and shredded); 2 Red chili (shredded; bell pepper can be substituted if you don't eat chili); 1 tbsp Fermented black beans (douchi); 1/2 tbsp Minced garlic; 1/2 tbsp Light soy sauce (for marinating and seasoning); 1/4 tsp Sugar (for seasoning); 1.5 tsp Cornstarch (1 tsp for marinating, 0.5 tsp for thickening); 2.5 tbsp Water (0.5 tbsp for marinating, 2 tbsp for thickening); 4.5 tbsp Oil (4 tbsp for stir-frying the bitter melon, 0.5 tbsp for marinating, 2 tbsp for stir-frying the beef); a pinch Sesame oil; a pinch Ground white pepper (i.e., pepper powder); 1/3 tsp Salt; 1 tsp Cooking wine (added when stir-frying the beef)

A classic Zhejiang home-style dish: stir-fry bitter melon until vibrant green, then toss with shredded beef for a dish brimming with rich fermented black bean and garlic aroma.

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Ingredients

Bitter melon (cut open, remove the pith, and shred) 378 g

Beef (washed, patted dry, and shredded) 114 g

Red chili (shredded; bell pepper can be substituted if you don't eat chili) 2

Fermented black beans (douchi) 1 tbsp

Minced garlic 1/2 tbsp

Light soy sauce (for marinating and seasoning) 1/2 tbsp

Sugar (for seasoning) 1/4 tsp

Cornstarch (1 tsp for marinating, 0.5 tsp for thickening) 1.5 tsp

Water (0.5 tbsp for marinating, 2 tbsp for thickening) 2.5 tbsp

Oil (4 tbsp for stir-frying the bitter melon, 0.5 tbsp for marinating, 2 tbsp for stir-frying the beef) 4.5 tbsp

Sesame oil a pinch

Ground white pepper (i.e., pepper powder) a pinch

Salt 1/3 tsp

Cooking wine (added when stir-frying the beef) 1 tsp

Instructions

Marinate the beef

Wash the beef, pat it dry, and shred it. Add the marinade (1/2 tbsp light soy sauce, 1/4 tsp sugar, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1/2 tbsp water, 1/2 tbsp oil, a dash of sesame oil, a dash of ground white pepper) and marinate for 10 minutes.

Prepare the bitter melon

Wash the bitter melon, cut it open, remove the pith, and shred it. Set aside.

Stir-fry the bitter melon

Heat 4 tbsp of oil, add the bitter melon, and stir-fry thoroughly. When the bitter melon has absorbed the oil and turned emerald green, add the fermented black beans and minced garlic, stir-fry until fragrant, then add the seasonings (1/3 tsp salt, 3 tbsp water, 1/4 tsp sugar, 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce) and toss to combine. Cook until the liquid has evaporated, then dish out.

Stir-fry the beef

Heat 2 tbsp of oil, add the beef, and stir-fry until nearly cooked. Add 1 tsp cooking wine, then add the bitter melon and red chili, and stir to combine. Thicken with a cornstarch slurry (1/2 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water), then plate and serve.