Bitter Melon Black Bean Fried Dace Fish 豆豉鲮鱼炒苦瓜

豆豉鲮鱼炒苦瓜 Chinese Bitter Melon with Canned Fried Dace Fish and Fermented Black Beans is a well-loved classic dish. This traditional stir-fried bitter gourd is a typical Chinese household vegetable side dish to serve around the dinner table. It is easy to cook this perfect Chinese bitter melon recipe with just a few ingredients in under 10 minutes on a large skillet.

> In This Post: Everything You'll Need For Homemade Chinese Bitter Melon with Canned Fried Dace

Bitter Melon stir fry is a delicious vegetable dish you'd want to make on repeat! The traditional way to serve this dish is with salted black beans, canned dace fish and freshly steamed white rice. It is a great way to bring nostalgia to your meals.

Check out this quick story summary of our recipe!

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• > In This Post: Everything You'll Need For Homemade Chinese Bitter Melon with Canned Fried Dace
• What Is Bitter Melon?
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• Instructions
• > Recipe
• Bitter Melon Black Bean Fried Dace Fish 豆豉鲮鱼炒苦瓜

What Is Bitter Melon?

Bitter Melon (苦瓜, kǔguā) is a type of vegetable with a bitter taste. This vegetable can be an acquired taste, and its bitter flavor can be lessened through cooking techniques or by combining it with other ingredients. 

In addition to being a versatile and intriguing food item, bitter melon is valued for its potential health benefits in culinary traditions and natural medicine practices.

Children's taste buds usually find this bitter taste too sharp. My affection for bitter melon took a long time to develop, also! As an adult, the taste of homemade black bean sauce with bitter melon served is one of the most delicious Chinese dishes to eat!

Bitter melon is part of the gourd family and is closely related to zucchini and squash. Chinese bitter melon is pale green like jade and covered with wart-like bumps.

Bitter Melon Health Benefits & TCM Properties

What are the properties of bitter melon in TCM? Bitter melon, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is cold and enters the heart, spleen, stomach and liver meridians. It is a cooling, purifying ingredient. Bitter melon purifies, relieves and clears heat, detoxes the liver, strengthens the stomach, and improves eyesight. 

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) also reduces blood sugar levels, enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces oxidative stress. Some use it to treat diarrhea, fever, mid-heat heat, phlegm and inflammation. 

Meanwhile, Ayurveda, the holistic healing practice in India, uses bitter melon's astringent taste to aid digestion, wound cleansing and weight loss. 

Bitter melon is rich in Vitamins A and C, fibre, minerals and amino acids. 

How to Make Bitter Melon Less Bitter

There are two methods to remove the bitterness of bitter melon. 

Par-Boil - blanch sliced bitter melon in boiling water for 30 seconds, then put it in an ice bath to stop cooking. 

Salt Bath - Soak sliced bitter melon in cold salty water for a few hours to tone down the astringent taste. 

Typically, I avoid either method. I love the taste of fresh, bitter melon!

Ingredients and Substitutes

Bitter Melon - choose a bitter melon that is firm and shiny. You can usually find bitter melon at most Asian grocery stores or supermarkets. Cut off the flesh around the pith. 

Canned Fried Dace - Fried dace with salted black bean (豆豉鯪魚, Dòuchǐ líng yú) is a Chinese canned fish from the Pearl River Bridge in China in the 1950s. This cheap canned food quickly became prevalent for meals during tough times, especially in the 1960s in Hong Kong when people did not have a suitable living environment. The bold taste of black bean sauce compliments steamed white rice well, even if served with rice alone.

There isn't really a good fried dace with black soybeans substitute because of its unique taste. However, stir-fried Chinese black bean bitter melon with beef, chicken, and scrambled eggs is wildly popular!

What are the ingredients in canned dace?

Canned dace has seven main ingredients: fresh dace fish, fermented black beans, vegetable oil, sugar, soybean sauce, salt and spices.

What does canned dace taste like?

Preserved dace has a chewy texture and soft, edible ones. It is oily with a bold, seasoned black beans and spices taste.

Vegetable Oil - There is already oil in the Fried dace can that I typically would stir-fry the bitter melon with. You may add an extra tablespoon of vegetable oil if insufficient.

Sugar - Add a little bit of brown sugar to balance the flavours. 

Shaoxing Wine - Add a little splash of Shaoxing Wine to deglaze the pan and add a little extra depth of flavour. 

Most dry goods ingredients, tools and supplies can be purchased at your local Asian markets and Chinese grocery stores or Amazon Online.

Instructions

Wash and pat dry Chinese bitter melon.

Slice off the flesh around the pith. This is a more efficient way to prepare bitter melon compared to cutting it in half

lengthwise and having to scoop out the seeds. I do not prefer to have the spongy pith intact with the bitter melon flesh. The pith gives off a weird aftertaste in the bitter melon.

Open a can of Fried Dace with Salted Black Beans with a can opener. 

Separate the fish and the vegetable oil with black beans. Reserve.

If this is your first time cooking bitter melon, I suggest using the black bean sauce from the existing can. There is no need to make your own Homemade Black Bean Sauce!

Add the vegetable oil with black beans from the canned fried dace to a large skillet and heat to medium-high heat. You can add an extra tablespoon of vegetable oil if there is insufficient oil.

While the oil is heating, cut the fried dace into little pieces with a pair of kitchen scissors.

Once the oil is hot, add fried dace into the nonstick pan or large skillet. Stir fry it for about 2-3 minutes.  

Add sliced bitter melon to the pan and a bit of brown sugar. Add a dash of sugar to taste. Mix well.

Add ⅛ cup of water to the hot pan and cover the lid. Let the bitter melon steam for a few minutes until the water evaporates. I love a few being blistered bitter melons, too. 

Avoid overcooking. Soggy bitter melon is not cool.

Add a little splash of Shaoxing Wine to deglaze the pan

and add a little extra depth of flavour. 

Stir fry everything together at the very end and plate.

Serve and enjoy!

Meal-Prep Tips

You can efficiently work this Chinese Bitter Melon Fried Dace with Black Beans recipe into your family meal prep ideas for the week.

We recommend prepping bitter melon only 24 hours in advance or when you are ready to cook! 

How long does bitter melon last in the fridge? How to store bitter melon?

Store whole bitter melon wrapped in a paper towel in the refrigerator or sliced bitter melon in an airtight container for up to 1 day. Alternatively, place sliced okra into reusable vacuum sealer bags and a handy vacuum seal tool. 

Bitter melon does not freeze well. Bitter melons tend to get mushy after thawing. 

What To Serve With The Best Stir Fry Bitter Melon with Black Bean Dace Fish Recipe

This yummy dish compliments a bowl of fresh white jasmine rice. It is a delicious way to complete meal prepping for a healthy week ahead. 

What to eat with stir-fried bitter melon? 

Add this traditional plate of alkaline ingredients to help build gut health, reduce cortisol levels and check off our daily vegetable intake values.

Other Classic Traditional Household Recipes We Love

Here are some of our favourite dishes to enjoy year long, during holidays like Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.

• Air Fryer BBQ Pork Char Siu 氣炸鍋蜜汁叉燒
• Braised Beef Brisket & Tendon Recipe 柱侯蘿蔔炆牛筋腩
• 5 Minute Air Fryer Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy 氣炸鍋腐皮蒜蓉炒白菜
• Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry 番茄炒蛋
• Vegan Tofu Stir Fry 五彩金銀滿屋豆乾小炒王
• Best Chinese Spicy Celtuce Stem Salad Recipe 酸辣涼拌萵筍

After eating heavy meals and deep fried foods, a great way to reduce heat is with a bowl of this liver-detoxing Chinese Sweet Mung Bean Soup 綠豆沙!

I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.

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