Strange-Flavor Bitter Melon
A signature cold appetizer featuring bitter melon tossed in a classic Sichuan strange-flavor sauce.
Ingredients
bitter melon (washed and cut into strips)
250 g
fine salt
to taste
soy sauce
to taste
sugar
to taste
rice vinegar
to taste
sesame paste
to taste
chili oil
to taste
Sichuan peppercorn powder
to taste
sesame oil
to taste
toasted sesame seeds
to taste
Instructions
1
Prepare the bitter melon
Wash the bitter melon and trim off both ends. Cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and pith, then cut into thin strips. Blanch the strips in boiling water until just tender, drain well, toss with salt and sesame oil, and set aside to cool.
2
Make the strange-flavor sauce
Place the sesame paste in a bowl and whisk in soy sauce, salt, sugar, and rice vinegar until smooth. Stir in the chili oil, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and sesame oil to form a balanced strange-flavor sauce.
3
Combine and serve
Put the cooled bitter melon strips in a mixing bowl, pour the strange-flavor sauce over them, and toss until evenly coated. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds before serving.
