These are my notes on the '熗' character

熗 (Simplified Characters炝) Pronounced: qiàng

Meaning: stir-fry then cook with sauce and water; boil food quickly then season with soy

Also: to choke; to irritate (as the throat, for example).

Your translation as 'pungent' does closely match the 'choke' or 'irritate' meanings but I got the more cooking related translations from the Yellowbridge Dictionary and they seem pretty apt.