Stuffed Bitter-Sweet Gourd in Clear Soup

The bitter gourds or momordica is one of the famous herbs in Thailand. This soup is Bitter-Sweet, let's try it !!!

Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken stock (or water)
- 2 bitter gourds (or momordica)
- 300 grams ground pork
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 coriander roots, finely chopped
- 2 shitake mushrooms, cut into well pieces
- salt (to remove bitter taste from bitter gourd)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- white pepper powder
- 1 tablespoon coriander leaves (garnishing)

Cooking Instructions
1. Clean, and cut the bitter gourds into 2" length pieces. Scoop out the seed and the inside part. Sprinkle the salt on the surface of bitter gourds (inside and outside part) and leave it for 20-30 minutes, then wash them with clean water.

2. In a mixer bowl, add ground pork, garlic, coriander roots, soy sauce (1 tablespoon), oyster sauce (1 teaspoon) and sugar (1 teaspoon). Knead until all ingredients mixed well. Then stuff the ground pork inside the sliced bitter gourd.

3. In a pot with chicken stock, over medium heat, add stuffed bitter gourds, shitake mushrooms, soy sauce (remaining), oyster sauce (remaining) and sugar (remaining). Wait until boiling then turn down the heat to low level. Let simmering about one hour (but the longer time will makes the better taste - my mother left about 2 hours).

4. Transfer the soup to a bowl. Sprinkle over the white pepper powder and fresh coriander, and serve with plenty of jasmine-scented rice.