The Happy Home Cook: Ampalaya [Bittermelon] Braised with Beef

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Ampalaya (bittermelon) (Photo by Roland Tanglao)

Ingredients

1/2 kilo ampalaya or amargoso 

200 grams beef tenderloin, sliced thin

2 tablespoons black tausi [salted black beans]

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice wine

3/4 cup stock

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Procedure

Split ampalaya. Remove seeds and scrape white membrane. Parboil for 3 minutes then drain. Slice thinly, and set aside.

Wash tausi, drain, then mash together with garlic.

Heat oil in pan, add mashed tausi and stir for 1/2 minute. Drop ampalaya and saute 2 minutes. Add the beef and saute 1 minute.

Season with soy sauce, sugar and wine. Pour in the stock. Braise for 1 minute. Thicken with cornstarch. Cook and serve.

Ampalaya [Bittermelon] Braised with Beef (Source: FilipinoVillage.com)

From A Culinary Life: Personal Recipe Collection by Nora V. Daza with Michaela Fenix