Steamed Stuffed Bitter Melon - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup ground lean pork
4 peeled water chestnuts (or the generous equivalent in canned slices)
1 teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced scallions (white and light green part only)
1 1/2 tablespoons shaoxing wine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon cornstarch (potato, water chestnut, sweet rice starch starches may be substituted)
2 medium bitter melon (green in color and 3/4 to 1 pound in weight. For much larger, nearly ripe melons, it will be necessa)
For the sauce
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons chinese fermented black beans (salted)
1 tablespoon shaoxing cooking wine
3/4 cup chicken broth
salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch, mixed with
1 tablespoon cold chicken broth
1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil (roasted or dark)

Preparation

PREP:
Finely mince the water chestnuts.
Trim the ends off the bitter melons ans slice into 1 inch slices.
Using a small paring knife, carefully cut out the pulp and seeds in the center of each slive, leaving onlu the melon wall.
Rub the inside of each slice with coating of cornstarch.
METHOD:
the slices:
Combine all of the stuffing ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix them thoroughly using freshly washed hands.
Rub more starch into the inner surfce of each slice of bitter melon, then stuff the cavity of each slive with a generous spoonful of stuffing, enough to completely fill the cavity.
As the slices are stuffed, arrange them on a plate and set the plate in a steamer with water coming within an inch of the plate Cover and steam for 20 minutes.
Arrange hte coked slices on a serving plats, reserving the juices on the plate for the sauce.
the sauce:
In a separate wok or pan, heat 2 T.
peanut oil, add the garlic and black beans, then stir fry for a minute or two, then add the Shaoxing wine, chicken stock and salt.
Add the reserved juices from the steaming of the melon slices.
Bring the mixture to a boil.
Thicken with the dissolved cornstarch and flavor eith sesame oil.
Pur sauce over bitter melon and serve with white rice.