STEAMED STUFFED BITTER MELON

Steps:

• 1. Soak fermented black beans. 2. Mince pork and garlic. Mash soaked beans and add to meat along with soy sauce, sherry and salt. Blend in well. 3. Cut bitter melons lengthwise in half. With a spoon, scoop out the seeds and spongy white pulp at the center. Stuff with meat mixture. 4. Arrange bitter melon, stuffing-side up, on a heatproof dish. Steam until done (about 30 minutes). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. VARIATION: * For the pork stuffing, substitute 1/2 pound fish fillets, 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon sugar and 1/8 cup water blended together. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.