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5.0 from 6 votes

Beef and Bitter Melon Stir Fry

Beef with bitter melon stir fry is a classic and traditional Chinese cuisine. This beef and bitter melon recipe has simple ingredients and takes around 30 minutes. Let’s learn how to cook bitter melon with beef!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 116 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian , Chinese

Ingredients

  • 2 bitter melons (Small-medium sized)
  • 1 pound beef steak (I used beef top round steak)
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon fermented black beans
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (½ tablespoon for stir fry bitter melon and ½ tablespoon for stir fry beef)
  • ¼ cup water
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt (For stir fry bitter melon)
Marinated Beef:
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel and wash 5 cloves of garlic and mince it. 
  2. Wash and half 2 small-medium sized bitter melons. Then, remove the seeds from bitter melon using a spoon.
  3. Slices bitter melon around ¼ inch thick.
  4. Wash and slice 1 pound of beef steak into strips. 
  5. Put the beef into a bowl. Then, add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, ½ tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix it well. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking. 
  6. Pour ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil into the non-stick pan. Put the sliced bitter melon, add ⅛ teaspoon of salt and ¼ cup of water. 
  7. Stir fry bitter melon for 2-3 minutes until it’s soft. Then, set it aside.
  8. Next, pour ½ tablespoon of oil into the non-stick pan. Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit. 
  9. After that, add the washed fermented black beans and stir fry a little bit. 
  10. Put the marinated beef and stir fry with the garlic and fermented black beans. 
  11. Until the beef changes color, put back the cooked bitter melon into the pan and stir fry it a little bit. (Remember don’t over cook the beef.)

Notes

  • Wash, cut and remove the seed from bitter melon. Then, slice it around ¼ inch thick. Stir fry with oil, salt and water for 2-3 minutes until it’s soft. 
  • Marinate beef with garlic powder, soy sauce, sugar, oyster sauce and sesame oil for at least 15 minutes before cooking. 
  • Stir fry garlic and douchi (fermented black beans) first, then add marinated beef. When the beef starts changing color, add the cooked bitter melon and stir fry a little bit. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 116kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Sodium 607mg (25%) Potassium 438mg (13%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1164IU (23%) Vitamin C 56mg (62%) Calcium 31mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 116

% Daily Value*

Calories 116kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 607mg 25%
Potassium 438mg 9%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1164IU 23%
Vitamin C 56mg 62%
Calcium 31mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.