Rellenong Ampalaya
If you want a balanced and delicious dish, Rellenong Ampalaya is what you need. Healthy and flavorful ground pork stuffed ampalaya that is so easy to make!
This stuffed bitter gourd recipe made me salivate while cooking! Sometimes, simple ingredients can deliver incredible flavors just like ginisang ampalaya. I’ve been incorporating more vegetables in our menu and rellenong ampalaya is becoming a family favorite.
How to lessen bitter taste of ampalaya?
Rubbing bitter gourd with generous amount of salt and letting it sit for 20-30 minutes helps draw out some of the bitterness. This also takes away some of the nutrients so take note.
Reduce the bitterness by adding a very small amount of jaggery or sugar to the dish. Keep in mind though to balance it with salt and black pepper so it doesn’t turn out sweet.
Soaking ampalaya slices in a large bowl with water and rock salt for at least 5 minutes also takes away some of its bitterness.
How to prepare bitter gourd or bitter melon?
Rinse ampalaya thoroughly and slice it in 2-inch sections or. Using a spoon, scrape core and seeds leaving you with an empty center to stuff pork mixture.
Why this recipe works!
This recipe includes a sauce unlike other recipes where it is baked and served dry.
Having ampalaya in your weekly menu rotation not only has health benefits but also economical. Many diabetics eat this vegetable because it lowers blood glucose levels.
Bitter melon or bitter gourd contains nutrients that can decrease cholesterol levels and lowering blood sugar. It’s also rich in vitamin C to strengthen the immune system.
Easy to make and won’t take much of your time. It’s great for weeknight dinners because it only takes a couple of minutes to make.
Ways to cook
You can make it by baking in a pre heated oven. Arrange stuffed bitter melon in a greased baking pan and bake for 25 minutes or until the meat is cooked.
Fry the stuffed vegetable coated in egg wash until meat is cooked through and pork changes color.
But if you’re doing this recipe, just fry them for 3 – 5 mins. because the pork and vegetable will completely cook in the sauce.
The secret ingredient is always LOVE
You may also like:
Atcharang Ampalaya or ampalaya salad which is a refreshing side to compliment any fried dish. Made of julienned radish, carrots, bell pepper, and bitter gourd.
Pinakbet is a vegetable dish from the Philippines that can be served as an everyday dish or when you have company.
Rellenong Ampalaya
Ingredients
For rellenong ampalaya
- 150 grams ground pork
- 2 medium ampalaya or bitter gourd (washed and sliced approx. 2 in then core removed)
- 4 cups water (for soaking ampalaya)
- 1 tbsp rock salt (for soaking ampalaya)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp potato starch
- 2 medium eggs (beat and place in a bowl for coating)
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
For sauce
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 small onion (sliced)
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp potato starch/corn starch diluted in 2 tbsp water (thickening agent/slurry)
- 1 cup chicken stock (or water)
Instructions
Making rellenong ampalaya
- Soak ampalaya slices in a bowl with water and rock salt for 10 minutes to lessen bitterness.2 medium ampalaya or bitter gourd, 4 cups water, 1 tbsp rock salt
- While ampalaya soaks in water. Place ground pork in a mixing bowl. Add soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and potato starch. Mix well until incorporated.2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tbsp potato starch
- Drain water from ampalaya slices and stuff each slice with marinated ground pork.
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. When oil is hot enough, dip the stuffed ampalaya in beaten eggs and fry all sides for 3 – 5 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.2 medium eggs, 2 tbsp cooking oil
Making the sauce
- Using the same pan and oil over medium heat, sauté garlic and onion.2 cloves garlic, 1 small onion
- Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and chicken broth. Mix and simmer for 3 minutes. Pour thickening agent or slurry then cook while occasionally stirring until sauce is thick.3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 tbsp potato starch/corn starch diluted in 2 tbsp water
- Carefully mix-in stuffed bitter gourd into the sauce and cover pan with lid. Cook for 10 minutes or until meat is cooked through.
Super delicious. I love it. My husband, nephew and niece loved it.
Hi Ann,
Thank you and I’m happy everybody liked it! Cheers!