Delicious Braised Straw Mushrooms with Bitter Melon Recipe for Vegan Meals

Braised straw mushrooms with bitter melon is a simple yet enticing vegan dish with a unique flavor and high nutritional value. Discover how to prepare this dish at home and add it to your family’s vegan menu!

Ingredients

• Bitter melon: 2 pieces
• Straw mushrooms: 250 grams
• Chili peppers: 5 pieces
• Shallots: 3 bulbs
• Fermented bean curd: 2 pieces
• Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
• Cooking oil: 1 tablespoon
• Seasonings: Vegan seasoning powder, sugar, MSG, ground pepper, salt

Ingredients needed for braised straw mushrooms with bitter melon

Steps

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Straw mushrooms: Trim the stems, soak in diluted salt water for about 15 minutes, then rinse and drain.
• Bitter melon: Remove the seeds, cut into bite-sized pieces. Soak in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, rinse and drain. To reduce bitterness:
  • Scrape off the white membrane inside the core.
  • Mix the cut bitter melon with salt for 20 minutes, then rinse under cold running water.
  • Optionally, blanch the bitter melon in boiling water for 2-3 minutes before cooking.
• Shallots and chili peppers: Pound into a paste.

Step 2: Make the Braising Sauce

In a large bowl, mash 2 pieces of fermented bean curd. Add 1 teaspoon of vegan seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground pepper, ½ teaspoon of MSG, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and 5 tablespoons of water. Stir the mixture until well combined.

Making the braising sauce

Step 3: Braise the Bitter Melon with Straw Mushrooms

• Heat a pan, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, and sauté the pounded shallots and chili peppers until fragrant. Add the straw mushrooms and stir-fry over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a clay pot.
• Using the same pan, stir-fry the bitter melon for about 2 minutes, then add it to the clay pot with the straw mushrooms.
• Finally, pour in the braising sauce and add 4 chili peppers to the clay pot. Place the pot on the stove, turn the heat to low, and braise for about 10 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste, then turn off the heat.

Braising bitter melon with straw mushrooms

Step 4: Complete and Enjoy

Braised straw mushrooms with bitter melon offer a rich flavor from the fermented bean curd, tender mushrooms infused with seasoning, and a slightly bitter, crisp bitter melon, creating a uniquely harmonious dish. This dish is best enjoyed with white rice during vegan meals.

Finished braised straw mushrooms with bitter melon

Conclusion

With this simple yet flavorful recipe for braised straw mushrooms with bitter melon, you have a nutritious and appealing vegan dish for your family. Try it out and share your results with us!

See more: How to choose fresh ingredients for braised straw mushrooms with bitter melon