Pork-stuffed Bitter Melon

Pork-stuffed Bitter Melon is made with fuzzy or hairy melon (also called Mo Qua), a gourd that looks like a zucchini covered with baby fuzz. In this recipe the melon is stuffed with marinated pork and cellophane noodles and braised with mushrooms. You'll find fuzzy melon at Asian markets. This recipe comes from cookbook author Stephen Wong, who notes that cucumbers can be substituted if bitter melon is unavailable.

_{Bitter Melon photo © copyright by Rhonda Parkinson, licensed to About.com, Inc.}