Bitter Melon Stir-Fry with Chili
A spicy and savory stir-fry featuring bitter melon, garlic, and chili, balanced by a touch of soy sauce and ginger. This Asian-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bitter melon, garlic, chili flakes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 200 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb, sliced bitter melon
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tbsp chili flakes
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp, grated ginger
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup, cooked rice
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp chili flakes; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb bitter melon slices and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp, adding 1/4 cup water if needed to prevent burning.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 tbsp grated ginger and 2 tbsp soy sauce; cook for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the vegetables.
- Step 4: Serve immediately over 1 cup cooked rice, garnished with additional chili flakes and a drizzle of soy sauce.









