Bitter Melon Stir-Fry with Chili-Garlic Sauce
A spicy and tangy stir-fry featuring bitter melon, roasted garlic, and a zesty chili-lime sauce. This Asian recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bitter melon, red chili peppers, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, 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 bitter melon
- 2 red chili peppers
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp canola oil
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Slice bitter melon into 1/4-inch rounds and soak in salted water for 10 minutes to reduce bitterness. Drain and pat dry.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp canola oil in a wok over high heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 2 chopped red chili peppers; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add the bitter melon and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp. Stir in 2 tbsp lime juice, 3 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Cook for 2 more minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the vegetables.
- Step 4: Serve immediately with steamed rice.








