Vietnamese Bitter Melon Stir-Fry
Canh kho qua is a simple, savory Vietnamese stir-fry of bitter melon with aromatic garlic and a touch of umami from soy sauce. Ready in under 20 minutes with minimal prep.
- Total time
- 18 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 145
- Protein
- 3g
Ingredients
- 1 large (about 12 oz) bitter melon
- 4 cloves garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0 to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the bitter melon under cold water and pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- 2
Lay the bitter melon lengthwise on the cutting board and slice it in half from end to end, then scoop out the seeds and pale flesh inside with a spoon, leaving a thin shell.
- 3
Slice the hollowed bitter melon crosswise into half-moon rings about 1/4 inch thick, as if slicing a cucumber.
- 4
Mince the garlic cloves until the pieces are smaller than a grain of rice—about pencil-tip sized dots.
- 5
Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a 12-inch skillet and set it over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers and moves quickly when you tilt the pan, about 90 seconds.
- 6
Add the minced garlic to the hot oil and stir constantly for 15 seconds until the kitchen smells strongly fragrant and the garlic starts to turn light golden.
- 7
Pour all the bitter melon slices into the skillet and stir for 1 minute until the pieces are coated in oil and garlic.
- 8
Pour in 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, then stir for 30 seconds until the liquid is evenly distributed.
- 9
Let the mixture cook without stirring for 6 minutes until the bitter melon softens and begins to brown lightly at the edges, occasionally pushing pieces around with a spoon.
- 10
Taste the bitter melon for tenderness—a fork should slide through easily; if still firm, cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
- 11
Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste, stir once, and transfer to a serving plate or bowl.
Tools you’ll need
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- spoon (for scooping seeds)
- 12-inch skillet
- wooden spoon or spatula
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