Serves: 4
Total Calories: 361

1 tablespoon black beans fermented
1 pound bitter melon
1/2 pound lean beef
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons oils
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons oils
1/2 cup Stock, Chicken or favorite stock

1. Soak fermented black beans.

2. Cut bitter melon lengthwise in half. Scoop out seeds then cut in 1/4-inch slices. Parboil 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Slice beef thin against the grain. Combine cornstarch, soy sauce, salt and sugar. Add to beef and toss to coat.

4. Blend water and remaining cornstarch to a paste. Drain soaked black beans. Mince garlic and mash with beans.

5. Heat oil. Add remaining salt, then beef. Stir-fry until beef loses its redness (about 2 minutes). Remove from pan.

6. Heat remaining oil. Add black bean mixture and stir-fry a few times. Add bitter melon and stir-fry to heat and coat with oil (about 1 minute).

7. Stir in stock and heat quickly. Cook, covered, 2 minutes, over medium heat. 8. Return beef and stir-fry gently to reheat and blend flavors. Then stir in cornstarch paste to thicken. Serve at once.

The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 4
Total Calories: 361
Calories from Fat: 150

More Recipes from the Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook Cookbook:
*Beef
Basic Braised Beef
Basic Steamed Beef
Basic Stir-Fried Beef I
Basic Stir-Fried Beef I or II: Suggested Vegetable Combinations (1-4)
Basic Stir-Fried Beef I or II: Suggested Vegetable Combinations (5-7)
Basic Stir-Fried Beef II
Beef Velveteen
Braised Anise Beef I
Braised Anise Beef II
Braised Beef Balls
Braised Curried Beef
Braised Marinated Beef
Braised Short Ribs of Beef With Black Beans
Deep-Fried Beef Liver Cubes
Deep-Fried Beef Slivers With Celery
Deep-Fried Beef Strips And Onion
Deep-Fried Chinese Steak
Deep-Fried Hot Beef Shreds
Deep-Fried Paper-Wrapped Beef
Deep-Fried Short Ribs of Beef
Deep-Fried Sweet-and-Pungent Beef Cubes
Marinated Beef
Red-Simmered Beef I
Red-Simmered Beef II
Red-Simmered Beef Tongue
Red-Simmered Spiced Beef With Turnips
Smoked Beef Balls
Smoked Beef I
Smoked Beef II
Steamed Beef Balls With Glutinous Rice
Steamed Beef Cubes
Stir-Fried Beef And Bamboo Shoots
Stir-Fried Beef And Bean Curd
Stir-Fried Beef And Bitter Melon
Stir-Fried Beef And Cauliflower
Stir-Fried Beef And Celery
Stir-Fried Beef And Chinese Cabbage
Stir-Fried Beef And Chinese Turnips
Stir-Fried Beef And Ginger Root
Stir-Fried Beef And Lotus Root
Stir-Fried Beef And Mushrooms
Stir-Fried Beef And Onions
Stir-Fried Beef And Oyster Sauce I
Stir-Fried Beef And Oyster Sauce II
Stir-Fried Beef And Peas
Stir-Fried Beef And Peppers
Stir-Fried Beef And Preserved Mustard Cabbage
Stir-Fried Beef And Rice-Flour Noodles
Stir-Fried Beef And Snow Peas
Stir-Fried Beef And String Beans I
Stir-Fried Beef And String Beans II
Stir-Fried Beef And Tea Melon
Stir-Fried Beef And Tomatoes
Stir-Fried Beef And Vermicelli
Stir-Fried Beef Heart With Ginger
Stir-Fried Beef Liver I
Stir-Fried Beef Liver II
Stir-Fried Beef With Sweet-and-Pungent Radishes
Stir-Fried Curried Beef
Stir-Fried Hot Beef Shreds
Stir-Fried Onion Crackle Beef
Sweet-and-Pungent Beef Balls I
Sweet-and-Pungent Beef Balls II