Ratatouille with Bitter Melon

This is a recipe for ratatouille cooked in a microwave pressure cooker. This is a vegetarian main or side dish and the delicious taste of this dish comes from the mixed vegetables. This is Okinawa-inspired as we've added bitter melon as one of the main ingredients. Bitter melon is one of the vegetables that makes Okinawa prefecture famous in Japan. Try this recipe at home and you'll be surprised how delicious it is.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 7 mins
• Total Time: 32 mins
• Calories: 76 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pinch salt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (6.5 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ⅓ bitter melon, seeded and cubed
• ½ eggplant, cut into small cubes
• ½ onion, cut into small cubes
• 3 spears asparagus, cut into small cubes
• 1 stalk celery, cut into small cubes
• ⅓ red bell pepper, cut into small cubes
• ⅓ yellow bell pepper, cut into small cubes

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Dissolve salt in a bowl of water; add bitter melon. Let soak for 5 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Combine bitter melon, eggplant, onion, asparagus, celery, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic in a microwave pressure cooker. Mix in tomato sauce, olive oil, basil, oregano, and thyme.

Step 3

Cook in the microwave at 600W for 7 minutes.

Step 4

Release pressure according to manufacturer's instructions. Mix well; season with salt and pepper.