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Home / Courses / Main Dish / Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd

Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · Published: 🖨 March 30, 2023 · Updated: 💻March 30, 2023 · 🗨 Leave a Comment

Recipe ▼

This Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in Spicy Black Bean Sauce is a classic with a twist. Red chilies make the sauce even more flavorful.

Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in spicy black bean sauce.

Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd is a classic Chinese dish made even more delicious in a spicy black bean sauce. In Malaysia, we love spicy foods and adding some chilies to any dish is a no brainer. I actually cooked this dish while I was back visiting my Mom in Kuala Lumpur as it is one of her favorite dishes. She recently told me over the phone that she was going to cook it again. 😉

Bitter Gourd/Bitter Melon

When it comes to bitter gourd/melon, you either love it or hate it. I have to be honest. I never liked it as a child. Never heard of any child who liked anything bitter. That said, the taste of bitter gourd grows on you as you continue to eat it and eventually makes you a convert.

There are different varieties of this gourd/melon. Some are definitely more bitter than others. My preference is the lighter green variety with wider ridges running along the gourd. You can further reduce its bitterness by “marinating” it in salt to draw out some of its bitter juices.

Bitter gourd and saving its seeds for planting.

Would you believe Paul and I drove 6½ hours to Billings, Montana to buy these two bitter gourds? Well, we drove there last week to get some things done. Since the Southeast Asian market was near where we were at, we decided to drop in. The big win there was finding frozen pandan, banana leaves, and bitter gourd! I have been having trouble germinating the seeds. Managed to save 26 seeds from this one melon. Hopefully, they will germinate. I can’t wait for the 2023 growing season to start.

Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in clay pot.

The Chicken For This Dish

If you are planning to buy a whole chicken for this dish, it is best to cut the chicken into smaller pieces. In Malaysia, I bought a whole chicken chopped into 16 pieces. The vendor can chop the chicken into 8, 12, 16, and even 18 pieces for you with his super sharp cleaver that cuts through the bones as if it were butter. I am not sure how you would do this at home but I am sure some people can. Over here, I am contented to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces. If you prefer, you can also use bone and skin on chicken thighs cut into two. if that is the case, you may need to increase the braising time by 5 to 10 minutes for the bone-in chicken to be tender.

Deliciously tempting Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd.

Similar Tools Used in Making This Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

Dual-Handled Unglazed Cooking Pot with Lid (Glazed interior)
Wood Spatula Turner Set (Straight+Diagonal)

Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in spicy black bean sauce.
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Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in Spicy Black Bean Sauce

This Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in Spicy Black Bean Sauce is a classic with a twist. Red chilies make the sauce even more flavorful.
Author : Linda Ooi
Course : Main Dish
Cuisine : Chinese
Keyword : braised chicken and bitter gourd, braised chicken and bitter melon
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Sitting Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 194kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite size pieces) (675g)
  • 1 medium bitter gourd
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ½ cup water (120ml)

Spice Paste

  • 2 tbsp fermented black beans (rinsed and drain)
  • 2 tbsp fermented soy beans
  • 2 red chilies (cut into small pieces)
  • 2 inch ginger (peeled and cut into small pieces) (60g)
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp sugar

Instructions
 

  • Cut bitter gourd in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and cut each half crosswise into ¼ inch thick slices. Place bitter gourd slices in a bowl.
  • Sprinkle salt onto sliced bitter gourd and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. This is to draw out some of the bitter juices from the gourd. Rinse and drain.
  • Pound all spice paste ingredients except sugar in a mortar and pestle into a paste. You can use a blender instead.
  • Transfer to a bowl and add the sugar. Set aside.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a medium sized clay pot or pan. Stir in spice paste and fry for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add chicken and continue to stir fry for another 3 to 4 minutes until opaque and coated with sauce.
  • Pour in water, cover, and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and allow it to simmer on low for 15 minutes.
  • Do give it a stir occasionally.
  • Finally, add prepared bitter gourd.
  • Cover and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Do stir occasionally.
  • The sauce should thicken. Turn off heat and serve immediately with steamed rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @MalaysianChineseKitchen or tag #MalaysianChineseKitchen

Be sure to cook more rice to enjoy this tasty dish with the gravy. If you prefer a less spicy version, please check out my Braised Pork Ribs and Bitter Gourd recipe on my other blog.

Freshly cooked Braised Chicken and Bitter Gourd in spicy black bean sauce.

Categories: 🗂 Chicken, Chinese, Main Dish, Vegetables Tags: 📋 bitter gourd, fermented black beans, fermented soy beans

About Linda

Linda is a food writer and photographer who hails from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She now lives in Wyoming, USA. Her other blogs are Roti n Rice and Tea Tattler.

Malaysian Chinese Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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