Gourd Stew with Lemongrass and Garlic

Gourd stew with lemongrass and garlic is one of my favorite dishes from Vietnam. It's super nutritious and delicious, and it's perfect for vegetarians who want to enjoy some Asian flavors. You can make this dish in no time with just a few simple ingredients. Here's how:

Ingredients:

- 1/2 gourd (if it is a small one or 1/3 of the gourd if it is large)

- 1 tbsp of minced lemongrass

- 2 minced garlic cloves

Sauce ingredients:

- 1/2 tbsp vegetarian fish sauce

- 1/2 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce

- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce

- 1/2 tbsp sugar

- 1/4 cup water

- 1/2 tsp pepper

- Cooking oil

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetarian fish sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, water and pepper. This is your sauce for the gourd stew.

2. Wash the gourd and cut it into thin slices. You can leave the skin on or peel it off, depending on your preference.

3. Heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and lemongrass and sauté for a few minutes, until fragrant.

4. Add the gourd slices and the sauce and toss to coat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the gourd is tender and the sauce has thickened (about 10 to 15 minutes). Stir occasionally and flip the gourd slices to ensure even cooking.

You can add basil at the end of cooking time.

5. Serve hot with rice or noodles. Enjoy!

Tip:

You can pan-fry the gourd before stewing.