Stir-fried Beef with Bitter Melon 涼瓜炒牛肉

A classic Cantonese stir-fry combining tender beef slices with the unique bitterness of bitter melon, balanced by a savory black bean sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

Ingredients

• 300g beef flank, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp Shaoxing wine
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 0.5 tsp sugar
• 0.5 tsp sesame oil
• 1 bitter melon (approx. 300g), deseeded and sliced
• 2 tbsp fermented black beans, rinsed and crushed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 10g ginger, sliced
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• For sauce:
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 0.5 tsp white pepper
• 2 tbsp water/broth
• 1 tsp cornstarch (for slurry)

Steps

1. Marinate the thinly sliced beef with light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, sugar, and sesame oil for at least 15 minutes.
2. To reduce bitterness, blanch the sliced bitter melon in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry the marinated beef until just cooked through and browned, about 2-3 minutes. Remove beef from wok and set aside.
4. Add another vegetable oil to the wok. Sauté crushed black beans, minced garlic, and sliced ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Add the blanched bitter melon to the wok and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
6. Return the cooked beef to the wok. Pour in the prepared sauce mixture (oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, water/broth, and cornstarch slurry). Stir-fry quickly until the sauce thickens and coats all ingredients evenly. Serve hot with rice.

Related recipes

More Hong Kong recipesBeef recipes

Stir-fried Long Beans with Preserved Olive Vegetables and Minced Garlic Roast Duck Rice Yuenyeung Money Bag Tripe Stir-fried Spring Vegetables with Bean Sprouts, Crispy Garlic and Salted Fish Stir-fried Beef with Broccoli in Oyster Sauce