rau khúc
Definition
- Noun:
- "Khúc" vegetable: A type of edible plant belonging to the aster family, characterized by whole leaves with white hairs on the underside. It is primarily used as a key ingredient to make a traditional Vietnamese sticky rice cake called "bánh khúc".
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Rau khúc thường mọc vào mùa xuân. (Khúc vegetable usually grows in spring.)
- Bánh khúc được làm từ rau khúc, gạo nếp và đậu xanh. (Bánh khúc is made from khúc vegetable, glutinous rice, and mung beans.)
- Họ đi hái rau khúc ở bờ ruộng. (They went to pick khúc vegetable from the field's edge.)
Advanced Usage
- The plant is specifically associated with a seasonal culinary tradition. Its scientific name is or , sometimes referred to as cudweed or Jersey cudweed in English.
Variants and Related Words
- Bánh khúc (n): A traditional Vietnamese cake made primarily with glutinous rice flour and the mashed leaves of the "rau khúc" plant, often filled with mung bean and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Synonyms
- Cudweed: A common English name for plants of the genus.
- Edible aster: A descriptive term highlighting its plant family and use.
Related Cultural Context
- Seasonal Ingredient: "Rau khúc" is strongly tied to springtime cuisine in Northern Vietnam. Its use is almost exclusively culinary, specifically for making the distinctive green-colored "bánh khúc".
- Herbal Connotation: In some contexts, the plant may be referenced in traditional practices for its potential mild herbal properties, though its primary identity is as a food ingredient.