Goya Chanpuru

Goya (bitter cucumber) is a common vegetable eaten in Okinawa.  It's incredibly bitter and I never enjoyed it as a child.  I always remember my mom telling me to eat it because it was good for me.  However, with time I have acquired a taste for it and find it quite tasty.  There are different ways to eat goya, but this is the most popular way to prepare it...with tofu and spam.  

2 Goya, seeded and sliced

1 package of bean sprouts

1 can of spam, sliced

1 cake of medium firm tofu, cubed

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp dashi no moto 

1. In a wok on med. high heat, add the tofu and season with about 1 tbsp of soy sauce for a few minutes, until tofu is heated through.

2. Place tofu in a dish and set aside.

3. Add goya to wok and stir fry with 1/2 tbsp of soy sauce until it starts to get tender then add the bean sprouts and rest of soy sauce.

4. Stir fry until goya is tender and bean sprouts are tender crisp. 

5. Add spam and cooked tofu back into wok and heat through. 

Serve with rice.