Khmer Cooking Herbs

ជីរឆ្អាប, ឬ ជីរថ្ពាល់ត្រី​, ឬ ជីរដំឡូង, ឬ ជីរស្លឹកម្លូរ. Fish Mint (Houttuynia Cordata & H. Emeiensis). I grow different variations of Houttuynia genus in my garden for culinary purpose. Which one is H. Cordata and which is H. Emeiensis?  Well, the two varieties have the same tastes and aromatic scents. But, they are different in size,  colors,  thickness in leaves,  and in their appearance. The one darker green with maroon colored band is a more cold hardy than the other.   Despite information found on the internet insists that they are the same plant, but, I  don't believe that the name (Houttuynia Emeiensis) is just a synonym of H. Cordata. There's not much information that differentiate between the two Houttuynia genus. My only way to differentiate the sister plants is by where it is commonly grown and cultivate for culinary use. Houttuynia emeiensis is named after the place where it was found. So, to my assumption based on what commonly seen in different parts of rural

ជីរបន្លា/ជីរណា, Culantro (Eryngium Foetidum) is  Khmer culinary herbs.  Used in Soups,  Salad, Stir Fry, and Sauce (Khmer pesto). Culantro is one of the most needy herb in my planter gardening in terms of watering and sunlight. Too wet will cause root rot and dies. In USDA zone 9a,  direct sun will burn the leave. A native to Cambodia.  An annual in tropical and subtropical climate. Frost sensitive. It will reseed itself under a suitable condition.  This toothed linear leafy plant is a shade loving plant.. 4282019 A must have in Khmer culinary.  

(Persicaria Odorata), a Khmer culinary herb.  The Khmers  uses it in Salads, Wraps,  Sauce (Khmer Pesto), or as a table condiments her platter for noodle dishes, and grilled meat of sorts.. An addition to my budget-friendly gardening. Propagating from kitchen scraps cutting.  (Persicaria Odorata) also known as ជីរក្រសាំងទំហំ, Hot Mint, Rau Ram. A native to Cambodia.  A perennial in a tropical and subtropical climate. It's frosted sensitive. It grows year-round in USDA zone 9a. It's an erected and upright plant with slender stalks, with swollen nodes. Can reach 2ft aboveground.  Leaves is oblong with maroon V shape marked center,  with short petiole. Like most mint plants,  this plant spread rampantly forming a thick mat of stolons about 3-4" below the soil surface.  It is a semi aquatic plant, can be found thriving a long fresh waterway, or a contant moist environment. It is a drought sensitive plant. 

ជីរអង្កាម/ ជីរមហោ, Peppermint . A Khmer culinary herbs. Used fresh in Soups, Salads, Wraps,  dipping Sauce (Khmer Pesto), or as a table condiments in an herb platter. A budget-friendly gardening. Propagating propagating from kitchen scraps cutting. It's a native to Cambodia.  It a perennial in tropical and subtropical climate. Frost sensitive.  It can be found thriving along waterway in a tropical environment.  It's an erected plant with square stalk with opposite leaf,  and stand at about 15" aboveground.  Like most mint,  it spread rampantly forming a thick mat of stolons just below the soil surface.  Container planting is highly recommended. 

ជីរវ៉ាន់ស៊ុយ/Cilantro  is a foreign herb to my Kitchen. I've only use it in my Mexican cooking.  An addition to my budget-friendly gardening.  Propagating from kitchen scraps cutting propagation.  I don't have much use in Khmer dishes but it's one of the key ingredients for my Mexican cooking.  Cilantro or ជីរវ៉ាន់ស៊ុយ