Harvesting: Luffa with clams

I harvested my first luffa today. Luffa is supposed to have a very long growing season, so I am pleasantly surprised that I got a fruit on day 64. It was 30cm long.

I decided to use it for a stir fry with clams. It turned out quite well – the luffa garden fresh, the clams bold and flavorful. The sauce goes very well with rice.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 luffa fruit
• 16 manila clams
• 2 garlic cloves
• salt

Steps:

1. Soak the clams in fresh water to remove sand.
2. Peel the luffa fruit. Cut it into bite-size chucks.
3. Mince the garlic.
4. Put cooking oil in the wok, turn it on to medium heat. Add garlic.
5. Saute the luffa until translucent.
6. Add clams and salt. Cover. Cook until the clams are open.

Luffa oxidizes very quickly, so cut it right before you put it in the wok.