Oseng-Oseng Pare: Javanese Stir-fried Bitter Gourd

Ingredients

• 300 gr bitter gourd
• 6 shallots, peeled, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled chopped
• 3 big red chillies, remove the stalk, chopped
• 3 bird’s eye chillies (optional, remove the stalk)
• 0.5 tsp roasted shrimp paste
• 1 red tomato, chopped
• 2 cm, galangal, sliced
• 1 Indonesian bay leaf (daun salam)
• Salt to taste
• 0.5 tsp sugar
• 100 ml water
• 3 tbsp cooking oil

Instructions

1. 1

   Remove both ends of the bitter gourd, cut in half, and remove the seeds.

2. 2

   Thinly slice it, then put it in a colander and sprinkle with some salt to sweat it. Leave it for around 15 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Set aside.

3. 3

   Using a blender or food processor, blend into a paste: shallots, garlic and chillies.

4. 4

   Heat the cooking oil in a wok over medium high heat, and saute the blended spices and roasted shrimp paste, for around 3 minutes until fragrant.

5. 5

   Add the chopped red tomato, galangal and daun salam. Fry for another 2 minutes.

6. 6

   Add the bitter gourd, stir.

7. 7

   Add the water, salt and sugar. Cook for around 10 minutes until the liquids have evaporated and the bitter gourd is tender.

8. 8

   Transfer to a serving plate and enjoy!