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Goya champuru
ゴーヤーチャンプルー: Okinawan stir-fry of bitter melon, tofu and egg
Goya champuru (ゴーヤーチャンプルー) is the best-known dish of Okinawa, Japan's southern islands, where bitter melon (goya) grows on vines in summer. Champuru means 'mixed up' in the Okinawan language: slices of goya are stir-fried with firm tofu and egg, and the bitterness is balanced by soy and the richness of the egg. Pork or Spam is usual; this vegetarian version relies on well-browned tofu. Serve with rice. Chef's tip: scrape out every bit of the white pith from inside the goya. That's where most of the harsh bitterness lives, so a clean scrape gives you the pleasant, refreshing bitterness Okinawans love.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Halve 1 goya (bitter melon) lengthways and scrape out the seeds and white pith with a spoon; the pith is the most bitter part. Slice into 5 mm half-moons.
Step 2: Toss the goya with ½ tsp salt, leave for 5 minutes, then rinse and squeeze gently. This tames the bitterness. Pat dry.
Step 3: Tear 10 ½ oz firm tofu into bite-sized chunks with your hands; the rough edges brown better than cut cubes. Pat dry.
Step 4: Heat 1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the tofu for 4–5 minutes, turning only when each side releases easily from the pan, until golden and crisp on most sides. Moving it too soon tears it. Push to one side.
5 minStep 5: Add the goya and ½ onion and stir-fry for 2 minutes, until the goya is bright green and just tender.
2 minStep 6: Season with 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp mirin, then pour 2 eggs over everything. Leave for 20 seconds, then fold gently until the egg is just set in soft curds.
1 minStep 7: Drizzle with 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, season with 1 pinch black pepper and serve hot with 10 ½ oz cooked rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 24 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does goya champuru take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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