Stir-Fried Bitter Gourd with Garlic and Black Bean Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A spicy and savory Chinese-inspired stir-fry featuring bitter gourd balanced by fermented black bean sauce and aromatic garlic. This Chinese-inspired stir-fry recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bitter gourd (bitter melon), vegetable oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 110 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 10 min Serves 3 Chinese cuisine 110 cal/serving

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Ingredients

300g, sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons bitter gourd (bitter melon)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1 tbsp, rinsed and roughly chopped fermented black beans
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
3 tbsp water
2 tbsp chopped scallions
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

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Instructions

Step 1: Rinse and slice 300g bitter gourd into 1/4-inch half-moons. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and pat dry to reduce bitterness.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp chopped fermented black beans, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Add bitter gourd slices and stir-fry for 3 minutes until they start to soften.
Step 4: Mix 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, and 3 tbsp water, then pour into the wok. Stir-fry for another 2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the bitter gourd.
Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped scallions and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy finish.