Fish mints with garlic sauce

 

In Vietnam, people enjoy fresh fish mint with a variety of dishes like Bun Cha, Bun Dau, or braised pork. In Japan, however, it often grows wild on the pavements, largely ignored. I find it such a pity to see this wonderful herb go to waste, so one day, I couldn't resist picking some fish mint on my way home. 

Though there are many ways to enjoy fish mint, here is how I prepared it today: First, fry a mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, garlic, onion, and fresh chili in a pan. Once the mixture is cooked, let it cool down before pouring it over the fish mint. The amounts of each ingredient are flexible, but keep in mind that the sauce should not be too salty. Fish mint leaves are quite delicate, and you'll end up eating too many leaves if the sauce is overly salty.