Ampalaya Relish

Ampalaya or Bitter Gourd Relish

Ingredients:

2 pieces ampalaya, remove pulp and seeds, slice as thin as you can, rub with 2 tablespoons rock salt until the green juice is extracted. Throw the bitter juice and wash the slices three times in cold water. After washing drain all the water by pressing lightly on them. Set them aside while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. 

1 head garlic, skins removed and sliced thinly

3 small red onions, sliced thinly

2 small red tomatoes, deseeded and sliced in small sticks

1 x 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin sticks

1/2 teaspoon freshly pounded black peppercorns 

Dressing

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup white sugar

1 cup water

Boil vinegar, sugar and water until reduced to half the original volume. 

Cool the resulting syrup

Toss all ingredients in a glass bowl and mix until everything is soaked in the syrup. Can be served right away or eaten cold with any fried seafood or meat. It can be served as an appetizer also. 

You may bottle the relish and gift it to your buddies. Enjoy!