Rice Paddy Herb

Limnophila aromatica

Appears in
Southeast Asian Flavors: Adventures in Cooking the Foods of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia & Singapore

By Robert Danhi

Published 2008

  • About

Named such because it is grown in rice paddies and other shallow water areas in Vietnam, this herb has small, tender, oval leaves with a slightly purple base. Its flavor, reminiscent of cumin and citrus, goes best with seafood and sour fish soups. It is always added at the last moment, and the stems are eaten along with the leaves. Vietnamese: ngò-ôm