Stuffed Bitter Gourd Soup

Ingredients:

half bitter gourd, core removed 300gm

grounded pork

1 tbsp goji berries, soaked in water for 5 minutes and drained

1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine

1 tbsp light soy sauce(to taste – optional)

1 tsp sugar

¼ cube chicken stock

600ml water

Pork Marinades

1 1/2 tbsp fermented soy bean, mashed(use Hoisin sauce if you prefer or Plum Sauce)

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp oyster sauce

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Steps:

1. Boil a pot of water, add 1 tsp salt to the water and boil the bittergourd for about 2mins. Remove and soak into cold water for 2 mins. Pat dry.

2. Marinate the minced pork for 2 hours in the fridge.

3. Stuff the bitter gourd with marinated minced pork. Shape the left over minced pork into meat balls.

4. Bring water to a boil. Add the stuffed bitter gourd and the meat balls. Boil the soup over high heat for 1 hour.

5. Turn the fire down to low heat and simmer soup for another ½ hr. If you prefer your bittergourd very soft, then add additional ½ hr more.

6. Toss in goji berries.

7. Serve hot with steamed rice.