Grandma's Recipes 
埼玉県 
* Photo is for reference 東京都 🌻 Summer
Japanese Grandma's Bitter Melon Stir-Fry (Goya Champuru)
Goya champuru is Okinawa's most famous home-cooked dish, and it has become a beloved summer staple across all of Japan. 'Champuru' means 'mix it all up' in Okinawan, and this colorful stir-fry of bitter melon, pork, fishcake, and egg is believed to help fight summer fatigue - the bitterness is the key to its energizing power.
🧂 Ingredients
servings
* In traditional Japanese grandma cooking, measurements are approximate — think of them as guidelines rather than exact amounts.
| Main Ingredients | |
| Goya (bitter melon) | 200g (Can be found at Asian grocery stores) |
| Pork (thinly sliced) | 100g |
| Chikuwa (tube-shaped fishcake) | 1本 (Can substitute with firm tofu or other fishcake) |
| Bean sprouts (moyashi) | 50g |
| Egg | 1個 |
| Seasonings | |
| Soy sauce | 少々 |
| Mirin (sweet rice wine) | 少々 |
| Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) | 多め |
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cut the bitter melon in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and white pith with a spoon, and slice thinly. Cut the chikuwa on the diagonal.
- 2
Heat oil in a frying pan and cook the pork first, taking time to cook it through thoroughly.
💡 Grandma's rule was to always cook the pork first and take her time with it
- 3
Add the bitter melon and chikuwa and stir-fry over medium heat. Bitter melon retains its nutrients even when well-cooked, so don't worry about overcooking it.
- 4
Add the bean sprouts last and stir-fry briefly. Season with soy sauce and mirin.
💡 Adding bean sprouts at the very end is grandma's method - keeps them crisp
- 5
Pour in the beaten egg, stir gently, and top with a generous amount of bonito flakes. Serve!
📖 Memories & Stories
Grandma passed away two years ago at 89, but every year as the weather warms in early June, I remember her words - 'The more bitter the food, the more energy it gives you' - and make this dish myself. It's helped me avoid heatstroke and stay healthy through the summer.
Source: Learned directly from grandmother (Submitted by: ローズマリー)
🍽 Cultural Background
Goya champuru is the signature dish of Okinawa. 'Champuru' means 'mixed up' in the Okinawan language, and the dish combines tofu, vegetables, and meat in a stir-fry. Goya (bitter melon) is rich in vitamin C and is widely regarded as a natural remedy for summer fatigue, which has helped the dish spread from Okinawa to become popular throughout Japan.
