This is Ampalaya Guisado (Sauteed Bitter Gourd). Ampalaya Guisado is a simple vegetable dish made by sauteing bitter gourd with garlic and onion then finishing off with a splash of broth and fish sauce. Ampalaya or Bitter gourd is a tropical vegetable that has a very strong bitter taste. However, the health benefits of this plant more than make up for the bitter taste. It is known to help lower blood sugar levels and consequently be good for diabetics. You can reduce the bitterness of the ampalaya by giving it a salt water bath prior to cooking. Enjoy this recipe from all of us at Filipino Chow.
Ampalaya Guisado (Sauteed Bitter Gourd)
Ingredients
- 1 large of bitter melon, sliced in half with seeds removed
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 medium-sized onion, sliced
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
- 1 cup of vegetable broth
- cooking oil
Instructions
- Slice the bitter melon into thin, half crescent shaped pieces.
- Now soak the bitter melon in salted water for 10 minutes.
- Remove the bitter melon from the salt water and squeeze it with your hands slightly to remove some of the bitter taste.
- Then rinse the bitter melon and set it aside.
- Add the cooking oil to a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Now add the garlic and onion and stir occasionally.
- Saute for a minute then add the bitter melon.
- Pour the vegetable broth and fish sauce into the pan.
- Bring this to a boil then reduce the heat to low.
- Stir occasionally until the bitter melon is tender but do not overcook.
- Remove the pan from the heat and serve the food on a serving dish.
Be aware of the salt content in the fish sauce and broth you are using since the bitter melon gets a salt water bath prior to cooking. You don't want the dish to be too salty.