Pan-Fried Goya and Egg Tofu Stir-Fry
A quick Okinawan-inspired stir-fry featuring bitter melon (goya) and silky egg tofu, accented with garlic and a light soy glaze. This Japanese-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs bitter melon (goya), egg tofu, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 150 calories and feeds 3, 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 medium (about 150 g), sliced thinly and seeds removed bitter melon (goya)
- 250 g, cut into 1-inch cubes egg tofu
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tsp for garnish toasted sesame seeds
- 2 stalks, thinly sliced for garnish scallions
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 2: Add 150 g thinly sliced bitter melon and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until the edges start to soften and turn translucent.
- Step 3: Gently add 250 g egg tofu cubes to the pan and carefully toss to combine, cooking for 3 minutes until tofu is warmed through and slightly golden on some edges.
- Step 4: Drizzle 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp mirin, and 1 tbsp sesame oil over the stir-fry. Toss gently and cook for another 2 minutes until the sauce lightly coats the ingredients.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and garnish with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds and 2 thinly sliced scallions before serving warm.








