苦瓜肉片 Stir Fried Bitter Melon and Pork

Pinyin: Kǔ Guā Ròu Piàn

Oh my this one is a real doozy. People either love it or hate it. I'm more of a hater, but coming around to the tolerating side of things. It's the damn bitter melon (the green stuff) that makes this dish just so.

Bitter melon looks like a cucumber gone wrinkled, but tastes like sucking on an aspirin. It is one of the most bitter things I've tasted and for the most part I can't stand it. According to Chinese traditional medicine the bitterness has a cooling effect on the body which is especially good during the summer, ironically that's precisely when this vegetable is in season.

While I may have a hate relationship with this vegetable, your Chinese friends will probably feel the same way, but entice you to eat it at least once. Like everything in life I recommend you try it at least once and choose to hate it all on your own.