Zhe Er Gen (Fish Mint Root Salad)
The smell of mud, blood and fish!? Devil's root vegetables loved by people in southwestern China
Description
The underground root of Fish Mint (Chameleon plant), also known as 'Fish-smelling grass'. The absolute soul food of Southwest China, eaten raw with chili oil. Other Chinese people spit it out immediately due to its intense, bloody/muddy/fishy odor.
Restaurants serving Zhe Er Gen (Fish Mint Root Salad)
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Zhe Er Gen(Fish Mint roots)
- Chili oil
- Black vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Coriander
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- Wash muddy Zhe Er Gen (Fish mint roots) meticulously and remove fine hair roots.
- Snap them by hand into 3cm lengths (the origin of the name 'Snap-ear root'. Discard hard, un-snappable old roots).
- Soak in salted water to sterilize and slightly mellow the dirt smell (though the unique odor must remain).
- Place in a bowl with homemade chili oil (Hong You), soy, a heavy splash of black vinegar, sugar, MSG, and grated garlic.
- Add chopped fresh cilantro and toss well to coat the roots.
- Let it sit briefly so the chili oil and vinegar penetrate before serving.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
The unique smell of 'metal、fish、and mud' of the root
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
(Irreplaceable - completely unique odor)
Pairing
Baijiu / La Rou(Chinese cured bacon)
Trivia
[Hardcore] In Guizhou, they say 'a meal hasn't started without this'. Consumed madly in fried rice or stuffed inside grilled fish. It makes cilantro feel like child's play.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Crunch it loudly. At first, you taste delicious vinegar and chili oil, but seconds later, a 'bloody, metallic taste' and 'raw fish funk' violently pierce your sinuses. Wash it down with Baijiu.
Allergen
Soybeans, Wheat (Soy sauce)