What is Zheergen?

What is Zheergen?

Houttuynia cordata is an edible rhizome vegetable and a fishy herb. It is commonly called fish mint, dog ears, and pig nose. It is a vegetable grown in autumn, winter, and early spring. It is available all year round and is best from October to March of the following year. Common producing areas include the Sichuan Basin, Chongqing, and northern Yunnan.

What does Zhe Ergen look like?

The Houttuynia cordata has a long stem with some hairs, which sometimes appear purple-red. The leaves are heart-shaped, with smooth edges and no serrations. The leaves are large and few in number, and look sparse.

How to make Houttuynia cordata

1. Stir-fry

When stir-frying the watercress, be sure to add less salt. You can use a small amount of peanut oil to lubricate the pan and stir-fry the watercress at low temperature to bring out the fishy flavor.

2. Cold salad

Cold-mixed zheergen is the most commonly used preparation method. It is usually served with shredded green onions and soy sauce. The finished product has a strong fishy smell, and people who don’t like this taste will have a strong resistance to it.

The efficacy and function of Houttuynia cordata

Houttuynia cordata is very beneficial to our body. It has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying. It can also relieve and treat epidemics in places with heavy humidity. It can be crushed and applied with other herbs to treat snake bites.