Goya Chanpuru

A plate of Goya Chanparu
Koukichi Takahashi / EyeEm / Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Goya, a bitter melon or gourd, is a surprisingly popular vegetable in the U.K., but you might know it better as karavella, karela, kugua, bitter gourd, bitter melon, korola, caraille, cerasee, or kudret narı. This tasty vegetable is enjoyed in the Near East, Africa, Asia, South East Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. So you should be able to find it in most regional food specialist stores with a fresh vegetable section. Goya is also used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine so it can also sometimes be found in health food stores too.

Goya recipes are often cooked during the summer in Japan because the goya, is said to beat the heat, among other purported medicinal and health benefits.

Chanpuru is a specialty of Japan's Okinawa region and is a stir-fried dish made with vibrant green goya, soy sauce, tofu, pork, and egg. Chanpuru means mixed. Surprisingly the term comes from Indonesian word campur, which also means "mixed." In addition to the goya itself, this recipe includes tofu and pork as its main ingredients. You can also add other vegetables of your choice, such as carrot, green beans, and bean sprouts just to name a few.

Goya has a tasty, mild and bitter flavor, but if you’re not good with bitter tastes you can soak the bitter melon in hot water for 30 seconds before stir-frying. A dab of oyster sauce can also help to counteract the bitter taste.

A quick search online about bitter melon reveals its known effective uses in medicinal applications, from treating infections to digestive problems and even type 2 diabetes and cancer. Surely eating this wonder fruit from a young age must help prevent one from even getting these sometimes fatal ailments to begin with. 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 goya (bitter gourd)

  • 1 block cotton tofu, drained

  • 1/4 pound thinly sliced pork, cut into bite-sized pieces

  • 2 large eggs, beaten

  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

  • 2 teaspoons sake

  • Dash salt, or to taste

  • Dash pepper, or to taste

  • Vegetable oil, for frying

Steps to Make It

  1. Cut the goya in half lengthwise.

  2. Remove the seeds with a spoon.

  3. Slice the goya thinly and place goya slices in a bowl.

  4. Sprinkle some salt over them. Let them sit for about 10 minutes.

  5. Wash goya slices and drain well.

  6. Squeeze them to remove excess water.

  7. Heat about 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet.

  8. Stir-fry pork and season with salt and pepper.

  9. Add goya slices and cook until softened.

  10. Crumble tofu into large pieces and add in the skillet.

  11. Lightly stir-fry with pork and goya. Season with sake.

  12. Pour beaten eggs over and stir quickly. Season with soy sauce.

  13. Stop the heat.

  14. Adjust the flavor with salt.

Tip

  • Try adding misoyaki sauce to the Goya Chanpuru. Here's how to make the sauce: 2 tablespoons miso, 2 tablespoons sake, 1/2 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. 
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
391 Calories
30g Fat
9g Carbs
23g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 391
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 118mg 39%
Sodium 243mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 23g
Vitamin C 28mg 142%
Calcium 351mg 27%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 481mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)