Hunan style stir-fried bitter gourd with fermented black beans

Wash the bitter gourd, then halve it lengthwise and use a spoon to scrape out all the seeds and white pith. Slice the bitter gourd into 0.5 cm thick crescent-shaped pieces.

Place the sliced bitter gourd in a bowl, sprinkle with 5g of salt, and let it sit for 15 minutes to draw out some bitterness. Rinse the bitter gourd thoroughly under cold water and drain well.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the rinsed bitter gourd for 1-2 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp. Drain immediately and set aside.