called diếp cá, and it is used with grilled meat and noodle salad dishes. Fish mint may be used as a garnish with several Vietnamese dishes, such as gỏi cuốn, stir-fried beef with fish mint salad, and bánh xèo. Zhé'ěrgēn (Chinese: , "broken ear-root") is the edible rhizome of Houttuynia cordata (yúxīngcǎo; ; "fish-smelling grass") with a fresh, spicy, peppery flavour that is used in southwestern Chinese cuisine, i.e. that of Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan and western Guangxi. Typically the leaves are eaten in Sichuan and the root in Guizhou. Zhé'ěrgēn fried with (cured pork belly) is one of the staple dishes of Guizhou. Notable uses include: part of the extensive fried rice cuisine of Guizhou a condiment to migan and mixian noodles when served in broth as a component of dipping sauces used with the Shiping and Jianshui tradition of barbecued tofu raw consumption as part of cold-tossed salads, when it is most frequently combined with coriander, vinegar, fresh chilli, and soy sauce. The leaves are also a little peppery and are frequently consumed in the region. Traditional medicine Houttuynia cordata was used in traditional Chinese medicine, including by Chinese scientists in an attempt to treat SARS and various other disorders, although there is no high-quality clinical research to confirm such uses are safe or effective, as of 2018. When administered via injection, H. cordata can cause severe allergic reactions. Aroma profile Chemical compounds that contribute to the aroma of H. cordata include β-myrcene and 2-undecanone. See also Kampo herb list Sichuan cuisine Yunnan cuisine References External links Flora, The Gardener's Bible, ABC Publishing, Ultimo, NSW, Australia, 2006 Saururaceae Leaf vegetables Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine