Definition

1. Verb:
   • To simmer until reduced / to cook down: The primary culinary meaning of "rim" is to cook food, especially meat or fish, in a small amount of seasoned liquid (like fish sauce, salt, or brine) over low heat until the liquid is mostly absorbed or evaporated and the food becomes concentrated in flavor and often slightly caramelized or glazed.
   • To braise in a seasoned reduction: It describes a slow, gentle cooking technique where the food is both flavored and finished by the reduction of its cooking juices.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Mẹ tôi thích rim thịt với nước mắm và chút đường. (My mother likes to simmer pork until reduced with fish sauce and a little sugar.)
  • Cá rim mặn ngọt là một món ăn rất phổ biến. (Sweet and salty simmered fish is a very common dish.)
  • Để rim đậu phụ, bạn cần đun nhỏ lửa. (To simmer tofu until reduced, you need to cook it over low heat.)

Advanced Usage

• "rim khô": to simmer until completely dry/glazed.
  • Thịt kho tàu thường được rim khô với nước dừa. (Caramelized pork belly is often simmered until dry/glazed with coconut water.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kho rim (v): a combined term often used for braising or stewing dishes with a reduced, concentrated sauce, similar to "rim."
  • Cá kho rim là đặc sản miền Trung. (Simmered fish is a Central region specialty.)

Synonyms

• To reduce: to cook a liquid until less remains.
• To glaze: to coat with a reduced, shiny sauce.
• To braise: to cook slowly in a small amount of liquid.

Related Culinary Terms

• Kho: to braise or stew, typically for a longer time and with more liquid than "rim."
• Sốt: to sauce or to coat in a sauce, which is usually added rather than reduced from the cooking process.

1. Simmer (some food) until it is dry
   • Rim thịt
     To simmer meat until it is dry