This Steamed Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd is another one of those comforting home-cooked dishes I really enjoy making on busy days. You just need 15 minutes to prep the ingredients, then place it in the steamer to do the rest of the cooking.
It’s savoury balanced with subtle bitterness from the bitter gourd. If you like bitter gourd and simple flavours, you’ll love this dish. So comforting and satisfying, especially when enjoyed with a warm bowl of rice.
My dad used to braise pork ribs with bitter gourd. It’s not a lot of work but I like to try new ways to cook especially steaming food. So when I came across a recipe book that had a recipe on how to steam pork ribs and bitter gourd, I had to try it. To my surprise, it was delicious. I made a few tweaks to the original recipe and this recipe is my preferred version.
How to Choose Bitter Gourd?
For freshness — choose bitter gourds that have a firm body and a nice smooth surface between the ridges with no blemishes.
Less bitter bitter gourds with subtle sweetness — choose those that have a wider gap between the ridges.
Why you’ll love this recipe?
Healthy Steaming Method – No deep-frying or stir-frying involved—just steaming for a lighter, cleaner meal.
Comforting, Balanced Flavours – The flavours remind me of Steamed Taucu Pork Ribs with the addition of bitterness. It’s savoury paired with the natural bitterness of bitter gourd for a well-rounded taste.
Tender Yet Textural – The pork ribs are tender and slightly chewy, while the bitter gourd is soft and with a nice bite.
Minimal Cleanup – Everything goes into one plate for steaming—easy prep and even easier cleanup.
Great with Rice – The sauce from the pork makes it perfect to spoon over a hot bowl of rice.
Family Friendly – Mild and comforting flavours make it great for kids and adults alike.
Simple and Fuss-Free – Just a handful of pantry ingredients and very little prep work.
If you love this Steamed Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd Recipe, you might also like my Steamed Eggs with Minced Pork Recipe.
Cooking Tips for Steamed Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd Recipe:
Choose less bitter bitter gourds
Look for bitter gourds with wider gaps between the ridges—these are usually less bitter.
Salt + Sugar soak trick
Rubbing the bitter gourd with salt and sugar before cooking helps reduce its bitterness without compromising texture.
Cornstarch rinse for cleaner ribs
Rinsing pork ribs with salt and cornstarch removes impurities and keeps the meat clean and tender.
Layer marinade for flavour + texture
The combination of bean paste, soy sauce, and sugar gives a well-balanced umami taste, while cornstarch and oil ensure a smooth, juicy texture after steaming.
Avoid stacking when steaming
Spread out the pork and bitter gourd in a single layer so everything cooks evenly in the steamer.
Use high heat to steam
I usually use high heat to get a tender and chewy texture.
Use a steam basket
When using normal steamers, usually there will be water condensation resulting in water dripping into the dish. It is recommended to get a bamboo basket to prevent water condensation. You can find bamboo baskets here.
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Print Recipe for Steamed Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd Recipe:
Steamed Pork Ribs with Bitter Gourd
Ingredients
- 400 grams pork ribs 400 克排骨
- 1/2 medium size bitter gourd 1/2 个中等大小的苦瓜
Marinate for pork ribs 排骨腌料:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 茶匙盐
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 茶匙糖
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce 1 茶匙生抽
- 1/2 tablespoon fermented bean sauce 1/2 汤匙豆豉
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch 1 茶匙玉米淀粉
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil 1汤匙食用油
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil 1/4 茶匙芝麻油
Marinate for bitter gourd:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 茶匙盐
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 茶匙糖
Garnish 装饰:
- 1 red chili 1个红辣椒，切片 sliced
- 1 stalk spring onion 1根葱，切丁 diced
Instructions
Prep the Bitter Gourd
- Cut off the top and end of the bitter gourd, slice it lengthwise, and remove the seeds and pith. Cut into 2-inch rectangular pieces.
- Rub with a bit of salt and sugar, mix well, and let it sit for 10–15 minutes to reduce bitterness.
Rinse and Prep Pork Ribs
- Rinse pork ribs until water runs clear. Rub with a little salt and cornstarch, then rinse off. Pat dry or let it drip dry.
- Season with salt, sugar, light soy sauce, and bean paste. Add a bit of cornstarch for a smoother texture, then mix in sesame oil and oil to lock in moisture during steaming.
Combine
- Squeeze excess liquid from the bitter gourd, then combine with the marinated pork ribs. Mix well and transfer to a heatproof plate.
Steam
- Once water is boiling, place the plate in a steamer. Steam over high heat for 20–25 minutes.
- Check water level halfway through to avoid drying out the wok.
Garnish and Serve
- Once done, top with spring onions and chili. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Notes
Look for bitter gourds with wider gaps between the ridges—these are usually less bitter. Salt + Sugar soak trick —
Rubbing the bitter gourd with salt and sugar before cooking helps reduce its bitterness without compromising texture. Cornstarch rinse for cleaner ribs —
Rinsing pork ribs with salt and cornstarch removes impurities and keeps the meat clean and tender. Layer marinade for flavour + texture —
The combination of bean paste, soy sauce, and sugar gives a well-balanced umami taste, while cornstarch and oil ensure a smooth, juicy texture after steaming. Avoid stacking when steaming —
Spread out the pork and bitter gourd in a single layer so everything cooks evenly in the steamer. Use high heat to steam —
I usually use high heat to get a tender and chewy texture.