Interestingly, it is easy to recognise Hairy Gourd as you can spot some short hair like texture on its green colour skin.  The dish which I would like to share with you is a classic vegetable dish that is cooked at home or commonly served at economy/mixed rice food stalls in Singapore.

If you are looking for a quick and simple vegetable dish to cook, look no further. The subtle light textures and flavours of the hairy gourd tossed with glass noodles, garlic, and dried shrimps is just the perfect combination!!

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Serves 4 persons

Ingredients

500g to 600g hairy gourd, cut into strips

20g dried shrimp

30g glass noodles

2 cloves garlic, minced

150ml hot water

3 tablespoons cooking oil

Seasonings:

1 tablespoon fish sauce

½ teaspoon sesame oil

Method:

1. Soak the dried shrimps and glass noodles in 2 different bowls of water for 10 minutes.
2. Drain the water from the softened shrimps and glass noodles. Set aside.
   
3. While the shrimps and glass noodles are soaking, peel the hairy gourd. Rinse then cut into match stick strips.
4. In a pan, heat oil over medium fire.
5. Add in the minced garlic and fry until fragrant.
6. Toss in dried shrimps. Stir fry until fragrant and slightly crispy.
7. Put in the hairy gourd strips, and fry for 2 minutes.
8. Add in the glass noodles, sesame oil, and fish sauce. Mix well.
   
9. Cover and braise the hairy gourd until it becomes soft (to your liking) or until the gravy is almost absorbed by the glass noodles (I prefer mine with some gravy).
10. Dish out onto a serving dish and serve immediately.