Pork Ribs Bitter Melon Soup (Double Boiler or Pressure Cooker)
Servings: 4 servings
Learn how to make this easy pork ribs bitter melon soup using a traditional double boiler or with your pressure cooker.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork ribs
- 1 large bitter melon
- 2 tsp salt to rub on the bitter melon
- 2 large carrots cut into large chunks
Seasonings:
- 3 Tbsp ground bean paste (tau cheo)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
Aromatics:
- 1 bunch of coriander save the leaves for garnish, use the stems for soup
- 4 Tbsp fried shallots
Garnish:
- Coriander leaves
Instructions
- Prepare a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Add in the pork ribs and blanch briefly for about 1 minute. Discard the water
- Cut both tip of the bitter melon and then half. Scoop out the seeds and then cut into 3-inch pieces. Rub the pieces with salt and leave for 30 minutes. This will get rid of some of the bitterness
Cooking with a double boiler:
- If you have a double boiler, fill up the pot with some water (to the height that it won't touch the inner pot) and bring it to a boil.
- Put the pork, bitter melon, and carrots into the inset of the double boiler and then add in water until you just cover everything
- Add the aromatics and seasonings. Lightly stir to mix. Place the inset to the double boiler. Bring the water in the outer pot to a boil by cooking on high heat and then lower the heat after that and double boil for the next 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the pork ribs is really tender. You may need to add water to the pot if it gets low during cooking.
- Have a taste and season with more salt and/or sugar as needed
You can set up your own double boiler if you don't have one:
- If you are setting up your own double- boiler, fill up a large pot with lid with water, the water probably should come up to about 2 inches inside the pot. Put all the ingredients into a large glass bowl that is heat resistant and will fit into your pot. Bring the water into the pot to a boil, place the bowl in. Cover the pot with lid and cook for the next 1 1/2 to 2 hours and add water to the pot as needed because the water will get low during such a long cooking time
Cooking with Instant pot pressure cooker or any pressure cooker:
- Put the pork, bitter melon, and carrots into the inner pot of the instant pot and then add in water until you just cover everything
- Add the aromatics and seasonings. Lightly stir to mix. Close the lid. Turn steam release valve to seal. Press pressure cooker and make sure it's on high pressure. Set the timer to 30 minutes if you didn't cut the ribs into smaller pieces and 15 minutes if the ribs are in smaller pieces
- When the timer is up, wait 5 minutes and release pressure. Have a taste and season with more salt and/or sugar as needed
Serving:
- When ready to serve, sprinkle with some chopped coriander. Serve with rice as part of multi-course meal
