Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Braised Pork Ribs N Bittergourd

yoland's bday 139

One of my kids suddenly fell ill last Sunday and I have been in and out of SMC and the doc's clinic. He's home now and I am so exhausted physically and mentally. Thank you to those of you who called. We so appreciate your prayers and concern. I am reminded of how we can't take health for granted and how things can go wrong suddenly. The last couple of days I found no joy in doing what I love--cooking and blogging--but I'm forcing myself to continue so that I will not feel down. It is not life-threatening, and I am quite a hypochondriac so I worry easily.

I wanted to cook a bittergourd dish that the whole family would eat. I love stir-fried bittergourd with beef but it seems that Ming and I are the only ones who eat that dish. So I asked the grocer at Lido market what I could do with bittergourd that will be a hit even among those who don't like bittergourd. The lady and her friend both recommended that I cook it with pork ribs and bean paste. Wey, who doesn't like bittergourd, actually ate a lot of this dish. If a fussy eater like him likes it, it means it is blog-worthy. I wanted a low-salt dish so I omitted soy sauce but I guess if you aren't bothered about salt, you can add both light and dark soy sauces for the flavor and color. I find that all braised dishes taste better if it's been allowed to sit for a while after it's cooked and this dish is one of those.

Braised Pork Ribs N Bittergourd
1.5 kg baby pork ribs
1 large bittergourd
4 cloves garlic, smashed
a thumb-sized knob of fresh ginger, sliced
2 T Yeo's sweet bean sauce
2 T oil

1. Ask the butcher to cut ribs into small pieces of about 7 cm long. Boil a small pot of water and pour it over the ribs, stir it for a couple of seconds until the meat is scalded white all over, and then drain away the water. This will remove any unpleasant smell and dirt. Cut the bittergourd into large chunks.

2. Put the oil into a heavy pot and fry the garlic and ginger for 10 seconds, then add the sweet bean paste and fry for a minute. Add the ribs and fry for about 2 minutes in medium flame. Add enough water to cover the ribs.

3. When ribs are tender (but not falling off bones), add the bittergourd. Add more water if necessary, just enough to have some sauce. After 15 minutes, test the bittergourd with a fork to see if it is tender. Season to taste with some light soy sauce and add dark soy sauce for color if like. Switch off heat, leave the ribs covered in the pot until serving time. Re-heat and serve. Goes well with plain rice.

10 comments:

ekeng said...

Kai Ma..Who fell sick? Ming or Wey?
I hope he is ok right now..Wish him get well soon.

Anonymous said...

MMmmm..i can almost smell it. Delicious shot.

Precious Pea said...

Oh dear, which son not well?? I hope he is better now.

I recently fallen in love with bittergourd and have been braising it at home at least once a week. Usually i cook it with chicken, either black bean, taucu or oyster.

Anonymous said...

no wonder you have been so quiet.

hope things are all well now if not soon. a few of my frens children came down with hand foot and mouth as well. always so scary to have kid falling sick.

will pray for every children that God protects them from bad elements and ailments and as a mighty healer, He will heal and restore bodies to good and well. Amen

CK Ng said...

Get well soon. :)

As for the bittergourd dish, my mum used to cook it and it is my favourite way of eating bittergourd.

Pamela said...

I am so sorry to hear one of your children fell sick, it is always so scary. I thought something was wrong since the blog was stationary, but never would have guessed a family illness. You and you family are are in my prayers.
Pamela

Terri @ A Daily Obsession said...

ekeng: it's Ming. tq. he's in good hands n i trust God will restore him fully.

junkgirl: tq. tt was shot with a flash, a no-no i read in food photo blogs, but what the heck. i love ur photos. what camera do u use?

preciousp: the big son. he is getting better. he better. i'm so worried all the time.

bittergourd is yumz. have u tried it in soup? i quite like it but i'll never drink raw bittergourd juice. tt sounds sadistic.

nee: i wish it was as simple as foot n mouth. pls pls do pray for him, n thanks for tt prayer..it touches my heart.

ck: thank u. i hope u r keeping well in Japan too :)

pamela: ur kindness n prayers touched me (u r so far away n i don't know u...) n made me tear. u don't know how warm it made me. thanks, n i pray the same for ur family n u :)

Denise ^ ChickyEGG said...

will u bring my little Wey on this coming Sat Dinner? ??

Anonymous said...

Tried this dish last nite. It was very good. Hubby asked for it again. Thanks for the recipe!
Raina

Shan said...

Hope your son is doing much better and that you are feeling better too. Big hug.

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