Bitter gourd with tauceo

Bitter gourd with tauceo - for those fans of the bitter vegetable!

Ingredients (serves 4 as part of an Asian meal)
300 gm/10 oz bitter gourd
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tsp tauceo, pounded
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp white pepper
225 gm/8 oz tender steak, cut into thin slices across the grain, and marinated in 2 tsp oyster sauce, pinch sugar and 1/2 tsp sesame oil
225 gm/8 oz small prawns, shelled
1 red chilli, de-seeded and sliced into thin shreds
2 tbsp water

Procedure
Halve bitter gourd lengthwise and remove seeds. Rub salt into the two halves, then cut into 5 mm/1/4 inch slices at a slant.

Heat oil in a wok and brown garlic, then add pounded tauceo and stir fry for 1-2 minutes before adding bitter gourd, sugar and pepper.

After stir-frying for 8 minutes, add meat and prawns. Stir-fry for another 3-4 minutes, sprinkling in water if bitter gourd gets too dry.