Braised bittergourd with salted black beans

Ingredients

• 1 large bittergourd - cut into 1.5 inch strips
• ½ chicken ? cut into pieces
• (A)
• 1 tea spoon salted black beans ? washed
• 1 table spoon fermented soybean
• 4 pips of garlic- chopped finely
• 3 bird?s eye chili seeded
• 1 tea spoon of sugar
• 1 tea spoon of dark soy sauce
• 2 table spoons of cooking oil

Thickening:

• 1 tea spoon cornflour
• 2 table spoons water