Bitter Melon Lamb Stir Fry aka 苦瓜羊肉 – who would’ve thought something bitter could be yummy? Not me when I was a child, but now as an adult, I appreciate the unique flavors of this dish. Plus, apparently bitter melon goes very well with slices of lamb!

What is Bitter Melon?

Bitter melon, aka bitter gourd, is part of the gourd family – closely related to zucchini, squash, and cucumber.

Many Asian cuisine uses bitter melon as an ingredient, including Chinese, Indian, Burmese, Indonesian, Thai, and more.

This gourd is known for its bitter tasty and bumpy appearance. It can definitely be known for its acquired taste, but some still like to eat it due to its health benefits.

Bitter melons is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, fiber, and Iron. It can also help reduce blood sugar, decrease cholesterol, and may have cancer fighting properties!

How to make Bitter Melon Lamb Stir Fry?

First, gather the ingredients:

1/2 lb lamb, sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
1 bitter melon, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick
Dried chili peppers, optional

Add the sliced lamb with soy sauce, cornstarch, olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Let this marinade for at least 15 minutes (up to over night).

If you haven’t already sliced the bitter melons, this is a great time to do it. Cut it half way through length-wise first, then slice it 1/4-inch thick.

Heat a wok or large skillet with 2 tbsp vegetable oil with garlic, and when oil is hot add lamb and cook stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes or until the meat is mostly browned. Remove lamb from heat but keep the oil / juice in the wok / skillet.

Add sliced bitter melons, and red peppers (optional), and stir fry over high heat about 3 minutes, and add lamb back in to wok/skillet.

Stir fry for another 2 minutes or until meat is cooked thoroughly and bitter melon is softened but still crisp.

Remove from heat and serve!

Bitter Melon Lamb Stir Fry

Bitter Melon Lamb Stir Fry aka 苦瓜羊肉 - Marinated beef stir fried with sliced bitter melon.

Ingredients

1/2 lb lamb, sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
1 bitter melon, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick
Red peppers, optional

Instructions

Add the sliced lamb with soy sauce, cornstarch, olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Let this marinade for at least 15 minutes (up to over night).
If you haven’t already sliced the bitter melons, this is a great time to do it. Cut it half way through length-wise first, then slice it 1/4-inch thick.
Heat a wok or large skillet with 2 tbsp vegetable oil with garlic, and when oil is hot add lamb and cook stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes or until the meat is mostly browned.
Remove lamb from heat but keep the oil / juice in the wok / skillet.
Add sliced bitter melons, and red peppers, and stir fry over high heat about 3 minutes, and add lamb back in to wok/skillet.
Stir fry for another 2 minutes or until meat is cooked thoroughly and bitter melon is softened but still crisp, and remove from heat and serve!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 382Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 648mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 20g

The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands for more precise nutrition information.

If you love lamb stir fries, you should definitely check out my Cumin Lamb stir fry!