Definition

1. Noun:
   • Pig's omental fat: A specific type of fat from a pig, referring to the soft, lacy, and often flabby fat found within the pig's abdominal cavity, specifically from the omentum (a fold of the peritoneum connecting the stomach with other abdominal organs).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Món thịt nướng này ngon hơn khi quết thêm một chút mỡ chài. (This grilled meat dish is tastier when brushed with a little pig's omental fat.)
  • Mỡ chài thường được dùng để làm bánh chưng cho phần nhân thêm béo và thơm. (Pig's omental fat is often used to make 'bánh chưng' (sticky rice cake) to make the filling richer and more fragrant.)
  • Đầu bếp lấy mỡ chài để phi hành cho dậy mùi. (The chef uses pig's omental fat to fry the onions for a more aromatic flavor.)

Advanced Usage

• Culinary Context: In traditional Vietnamese cuisine, 'mỡ chài' is a prized ingredient for its unique flavor and texture. It is not just any pork fat but specifically the soft, internal fat that is considered to impart a superior richness to dishes compared to regular pork fatback ('mỡ lợn' or 'mỡ heo').
  • Bí quyết của món xôi ở đây là họ dùng mỡ chài để xào. (The secret of the sticky rice here is that they use pig's omental fat to stir-fry it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mỡ lợn / Mỡ heo (n): General term for pork fat or lard, which can come from various parts of the pig. This is a broader category that includes 'mỡ chài'.
• Mỡ nước (n): Rendered pork fat, lard.
• Tấm (n): Another term for pork fat, sometimes used interchangeably but can refer to different cuts or textures.

Synonyms

• Pork omental fat: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Caul fat / Lace fat: While not exact equivalents, these English terms refer to a similar thin, fatty membrane from the intestines of animals (including pigs), often used in cooking. 'Mỡ chài' is specifically the fatty tissue, not necessarily the membrane itself.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Béo như mỡ chài: (As fatty as pig's omental fat) – An idiom used to describe something or someone as very fatty or rich in fat.
  • Miếng thịt kho này béo như mỡ chài. (This piece of braised pork is as fatty as pig's omental fat.)

1. Pig's omental fat