How to Prep Fish Mint (Houttuynia)
鱼腥草的处理方法 · pan chinese cuisine
The author recorded this prep method as a personal reminder so they wouldn't forget how to handle fish mint between uses. Once prepped, it can be eaten cold-dressed or stir-fried.
Lucia FerrariMilanese living in Chicago. I will die on the hill that carbonara has no cream. Sunday ragù takes six hours and I wouldn't change a thing.Nutrition & allergens
No supported allergens detected from surveyed ingredients.
Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.
Per serving (4 servings)
- Energy (kcal)
- Unknown
- Protein (g)
- Unknown
- Fat (g)
- Unknown
- Carbs (g)
- Unknown
- Sodium (mg)
- Unknown
Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.
yu xing cao （ ye ）［ ji cai ， chou cai ］鱼腥草（叶）［蕺菜，臭菜］
as needed
Techniques you'll use
- Blanching (chao shui) ↗
Par-cook in boiling water to clean, tighten, or prep ingredients.
- Cold dressing (liang ban) ↗
Toss cooked or raw ingredients with a bold chilled dressing.
- Stir-frying ↗
Cook small pieces in stages, then bring them together while their textures are distinct.
Steps
- 1
Step 1
Wash the fish mint thoroughly.
✅ Done when: The stalks are free of surface dirt and grit.
- 2
Step 2
Remove the thin fibrous tendrils.
✅ Done when: No fine root hairs remain on the stalks.
- 3
Step 3
Remove the root ends (the pointed tips).
✅ Done when: All pointed root tips have been trimmed away.
The pointed tips are the roots. Once trimmed, rinse the fish mint again. Prepare a basin of clean water deep enough to cover the fish mint, add salt to taste, and soak for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse, briefly blanch in boiling water, and drain well — it is now ready to use. It is very simple: serve it cold-dressed or stir-fried.
✅ Done when: The blanched stalks are drained and ready to dress or stir-fry.
- 5
Step 5
Garlic fish mint — truly a fishy-smelling herb, as its name promises.
✅ Done when: The finished garlic-dressed fish mint is ready to serve.