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Thai Pork-Filled Ampalaya Soup - Instant Pot

This Thai Pork-Filled Ampalaya-Bitter Melon Soup is a beautiful vegetable-meat combination that is a meal in itself.  ‘Ampalaya is how Filipinos call the bitter melon. Prepare the ground pork stuffing with rice wine and soy sauce. Stuff the ampalaya slices and drop them into boiling broth. When it’s cooked, you can enjoy the soupy vegetable-pork dish over rice. This is a recipe that's good for any day of the week. This is an Asian in America recipe by Elizabeth Ann Quirino.
The recipe below offers two options: cooking in an Instant Pot or stove-top. Cooking time indicated below is for the Instant Pot
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time33 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Asian, Filipino, Thai
Keyword: Thai Pork Filled Ampalaya Soup
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 361kcal
Author: Elizabeth Ann Quirino

Equipment

  • Large Stockpot for stovetop cooking
  • Instant Pot multicooker; 6 to 8 quarts

Ingredients

  • 1 -2 whole medium to large ampalaya (bitter melon) sliced, seeds and white membrane removed
  • 1/2 pound ground pork; for filling
  • 1 Tablespoon shao xing rice wine; for pork filling
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce; for pork filling
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cloves garlic; minced
  • 1 whole onion; chopped
  • 2 teaspoons patis (fish sauce)
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • for serving: steamed rice

Instructions

  • To cook in the Instant Pot: (option 1)
  • Wash the ampalaya and slice in 1/2 inch-sized pieces. Using a small, sharp knife remove and discard the white membrane with the seeds in the center. Set aside the ampalaya slices.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients: pork, rice wine, soy sauce. Mix well. Stuff the center of the ampalaya pieces with 1 to 2 teaspoons of the pork filling. Set aside the meat-filled ampalaya slices.
  • Preheat the Instant Pot by selecting Saute.
  • After 1 to 2 minutes, when the inside pot becomes hot, add the garlic and onions. Saute till garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent in about 2 minutes. Add the patis (fish sauce) to the mixture.
  • Click Cancel to turn off the Saute function.
  • Pour the vegetable broth into the inside pot. Add the stuffed ampalaya slices. Season with salt and black pepper.
  • Secure the lid of the Instant Pot. Check that the release valve is set to Sealing.
  • Select Manual and cook at High Pressure for 8 minutes.
  • When the Instant Pot whistle signals that cooking is complete, use a quick release.
  • Carefully open the lid. Stir soup gently. Ladle into individual bowls and serve warm with rice.
  • Note:After the initial Saute, it takes about 17 to 20 minutes for the Instant Pot to pre-heat before the High Pressure cooking time begins.
  • To cook stove-top: (option 2)
  • Wash and slice the ampalaya into 1/2-inch sized pieces. With a small knife, remove and discard the inner white membrane which has the seeds. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix the ground pork, soy sauce and rice wine.
  •  Stuff each ampalaya segment with approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons of the ground meat mixture.  Set aside.
  • In a large stockpot, over medium high heat, place the vegetable oil. Saute the garlic, onions and patis.
  • Add the vegetable broth. Cove and let the broth to boil.
  • Into the boiling broth, drop the stuffed ampalaya slices. Season with  salt and pepper. Cook for 16 to 18 minutes or till vegetable turns a light green-yellow hue and softens. Serve piping hot in individual soup bowls.
  • Cook's comments:  
    If preferred, ground beef is also a good substitute for pork in this recipe.
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Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 5411mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2012IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg