• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Oh My Food Recipes
  • Homepage
  • About me
  • Recipes
    • Recipes by category
  • Subscribe Now
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Homepage
  • About me
  • Recipes
    • Recipes by category
  • Subscribe Now
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Asian foods » Beef with Bitter Melon

    Beef with Bitter Melon

    Published: Jun 16, 2021 Modified: Jul 27, 2021 by Tracy O.This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Beef & bitter melon stir fry (涼瓜炒牛肉) with black bean sauce is a classic and traditional Chinese cuisine. This beef and bitter melon recipe has simple ingredients and takes around 20 minutes. Let’s learn how to cook bitter melon with beef!

    Love authentic Chinese food? Check out these crab stir fry, beef and broccoli, stir fry water spinach, scallion pancakes, ginger milk curd and garlic chives & eggs recipes. 

    beef with bitter melon stir fry on a white plate with a blue towel

    What is a beef with bitter melon dish?

    Beef and bitter melon stir fry (涼瓜炒牛肉) is a classic Chinese cuisine. It uses garlic and fermented black beans sauce stir fry with beef and bitter melon. Also, some people like to boil bitter melon with salt, oil and sugar to remove the bitter taste. However, some like to stir fry the bitter melon first. Then, use it to stir fry with meat. In this beef and bitter melon recipe, I used the stir fry method.

    Not many young kids like this dish because of the bitterness from the bitter melons. When I was a kid, I didn’t like bitter melons. But, my mother likes making this beef with bitter melon stir fry. Throughout the years, I learned to eat this dish. It’s similar to life that is not always sweet and good. Sometimes, it is bitter and hard to try at first. 

    What is bitter melon?

    Momordica charantia is the scientific name for bitter melon. In Mandarin Chinese, it calls kǔ guā (苦瓜). But, most Cantonese people call it loeng gwaa (涼瓜) which means cool or refreshing melon to replace the word of bitter. Besides, there are different ways to call ku gua such as bitter apple, bitter gourd, bitter squash, balsam-pear. Also, it is widely used in Asia and Southeast Asia cuisine. 

    four raw bitter melons

    Bitter melon has a lot of vitamin C and good health benefits. Besides, in Chinese cuisine, bitter melon is valued for its bitter flavor. Therefore, it usually stir fries with beef and fermented black beans sauce, makes soup, dim sum, and tea.

    Although ku gua is native to Africa, it has been used in Chinese folk medicine for centuries as a 'bitter and cold' herb. In Chinese medicine point of view, pregnant women should not consume ku gua because it is regards as cold that can induce bleeding, contractions, and miscarriage. 

    What are the ingredients for beef with bitter melon black bean sauce?

    The main ingredients are beef, ku gua (bitter melon), garlic and douchi (fermented black beans). 

    beef bitter melon stir fry ingredients

    Cooking tips for how to cook bitter melon with beef:

    • 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) sauce first, then add marinated beef. When the beef starts changing color, add the cooked bitter melon and stir fry a little bit. 

    FAQs:

    How do you make bitter melon not bitter?

    Cut and remove seeds from the bitter gourd. Some like to boil bitter melon with salt, oil and sugar for 2-3 minutes to remove the bitter taste. Some like to stir fry the bitter melon with salt and water first. Then, use it to stir fry with meat. 

    Can I use other meat instead of beef?

    Yes, you can use chicken or pork. Personally, I like to use beef because this dish originally stir fry with beef. Some stir fry ku gua with pork spare ribs. 

    What kind of beef do you use?

    Any beef steak is ok such as tri tip. In this beef and bitter melon recipe, I used beef top round steak. 

    What are fermented black beans?

    Fermented black beans is call douchi (豆豉) in Chinese. It is a type of fermented and salted black soybean. A lot of Chinese cuisines like to use black bean sauce such as steam fish and steam pork ribs. 

    Instructions for how to cook bitter melon with beef:

    minced garlic on the chopping board

    1. Peel and wash 5 cloves of garlic and mince it. 

    using a silver spoon remove seeds from bitter melon

    2. Wash and half 2 small-medium sized bitter melons. Then, remove the seeds from bitter melon using a spoon.

    sliced bitter melons

    3. Slices bitter melon around ¼ inch thick.

    cut beef into strips

    4. Wash and slice 1 pound of beef steak into strips. 

    marinated beef with seasoning in the silver bowl

    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. 

    stir fry bitter melon in the non stick pan

    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. 

    close up stir fry bitter melon ku gua

    7. Stir fry bitter melon for 2-3 minutes until it’s soft. Then, set it aside.

    minced garlic in the non stick pan with oil

     8. Next, pour ½ tablespoon of oil into the non-stick pan. Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit. 

    stir fry garlic and fermented black beans on a non stick pan

    9. After that, add the washed fermented black beans and stir fry a little bit. 

    stir fry beef with garlic and fermented black beans in the pan

    10. Put the marinated beef and stir fry with the garlic and fermented black beans. 

    cooked bitter melon and beef stir fry in the pan

    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.)

    beef with bitter melon stir fry top view

    Enjoy this simple and traditional Chinese beef and bitter melon recipe! Also, check out these baby bok choy, Chinese red spinach, steam garlic shrimp, Asian shaved ice and mushroom chicken recipes. 

    You May Also Like These Recipes:

    • TOMATO EGG STIR FRY
    • SWEET MUNG BEAN SOUP
    • CHINESE EGGPLANT AND PORK
    • LO MAI GAI

    Subscribe Oh My Food Recipes to get our new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the latest updates.

    Chinese beef and bitter melon stir fry on a white plate with

    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!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 116kcal
    Author: Tracy O.

    Video

    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
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Peel and wash 5 cloves of garlic and mince it. 
    • Wash and half 2 small-medium sized bitter melons. Then, remove the seeds from bitter melon using a spoon.
    • Slices bitter melon around ¼ inch thick.
    • Wash and slice 1 pound of beef steak into strips. 
    • 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. 
    • 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. 
    • Stir fry bitter melon for 2-3 minutes until it’s soft. Then, set it aside.
    • Next, pour ½ tablespoon of oil into the non-stick pan. Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit. 
    • After that, add the washed fermented black beans and stir fry a little bit. 
    • Put the marinated beef and stir fry with the garlic and fermented black beans. 
    • 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

    Cooking tips for how to cook bitter melon with beef:

    • 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

    Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 438mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1164IU | Vitamin C: 56mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @OhMyFoodRecipes or tag #OhMyFoodRecipes!

    More Asian foods

    • Chicken Massaman Curry
    • Clay Pot Rice
    • Lobster Yee Mein
    • Asparagus Stir Fry

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Tracy O.
    About Me

    Welcome to Oh My Food Recipes, where you can find inspiration for meals or dinner ideas specialty Asian cuisines. Oh My Food Recipes is tried and tested recipes with step by step photo tutorials.... Read more!

    Seasonal

    • Chinese New Year Recipes
    • How to Make Chocolate Strawberries
    • Chinese New Year Nian Gao
    • Chinese Turnip Cake
    • Shrimp Chips
    • Chinese Pork Jerky
    • Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
    • Strawberry Pie Glaze with Jello

    MY FAVORITES

    • Pho Beef Noodle Soup
    • Chinese Pan Fried Dumplings
    • Black Sesame Soup
    • Korean Glass Noodles Japchae
    • Chinese Pineapple Bun
    • Japanese Tonkatsu
    • Asian Teriyaki Sauce
    • Chinese Orange Chicken

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Disclosure & Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Oh My Food Recipes

    AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE

    Oh My Food Recipes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.