Pork Bean Paste and Bitter Gourd (苦瓜面豉猪肉)

Ingredients

1. 1 bitter gourd
2. 200g minced pork or slice pork
3. 4 Garlic
4. 1-2 tablespoon bean paste
5. 1 tablespoon sugar
6. 1 tablespoon light soya sauce
7. 1 teaspoon corn flour
8. 2 table spoon cooking oil
9. 1 cup water

Method

1. Remove skin of garlic, minced and set aside.
2. Wash bitter gourd, cut into half, remove the seeds.  Then slice into thick slice of 1/2 to 1 cm thick depending on preference. (you can read how to make it less bitter here http://werynice.com/home/?p=167)
3. In a bowl, mix corn flour with a tablespoon of water till no more lumps and set aside.
4. In a pot or frying pan, heat up, add in the oil, add in minced garlic and fry till fragrant. Add in bean paste, soya sauce and sugar and stir and sizzle for 1 min. Add in pork and stir and break it apart till cooked. Add 1 cup water and bitter gourd and let it boil. Let it simmer for 10 mins or longer till the bitter gourd is soft enough to your preference (example it can be cut with a spoon).
5. Add the corn flour mixture slowly and stirring to thicken.
6. Serve with steam rice or plain porridge