Chapter 284: Swallow-Skin Dumplings and Bodhi Vegetarian Dish
Very quickly, Qi Han finished cooking the employee meals. With Pururu's help, he served the dishes and placed them on the table.
The dining area was instantly filled with a medley of aromas from the various dishes, blending together like a symphony that ignited everyone's appetite. The enticing smells made it impossible to resist grabbing their utensils and diving in.
Without much hesitation, everyone began eating.
"Ah... Mmm!"
Carefully scooping up a Swallow-Skin Dumpling with her spoon, Ying Shuang gently blew on it twice before putting it into her mouth. A smile involuntarily spread across her face.
Ever since she first tasted this unique delicacy a few days ago, Ying Shuang had fallen in love with its pure and exquisite flavor.
The Swallow-Skin Dumplings were bite-sized, making it easy for her to pop one whole into her mouth, even as a girl.
As she took her first bite, the freshness of the soup was the first to greet her taste buds.
The soup for these dumplings didn't use rich broths like chicken stock, as the chicken's flavor would overpower the pork's unique fragrance in the dumplings. This would obscure the distinctive taste of the dish—a cardinal sin in cooking.
Instead, the soup was prepared with a simple base of seaweed and dried shrimp, seasoned lightly, and infused with the hot water used to cook the dumplings. This simplicity created a flavor that was fresh and delicate.
The taste wasn't overwhelmingly rich but carried the elegance of a clear soup, akin to a refreshing spring water that soothed the soul. The seaweed and dried shrimp also imparted a subtle seafood note, enhancing the experience. One sip brought a sense of comfort to the entire body.
The seaweed and dried shrimp acted as delightful accents to the dumplings.
Savoring the soup for a moment, Ying Shuang began chewing the dumpling.
The swallow skin, made from pure lean pork, was meticulously prepared. The pork was beaten tens of thousands of times to remove any sinews, turning it into a smooth, paste-like texture. This was then mixed with sweet potato flour multiple times until thoroughly combined. After numerous rounds of rolling, the dough became the thin swallow skin, offering a completely different texture and taste from regular dumpling wrappers.
Such a process was something no machine or technology could replicate.
One kilogram of lean pork could yield about seven square meters of swallow skin—roughly the size of a bedsheet. The finished product was thin and uniformly even, as delicate as paper. Held up to the light, it gleamed, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship.
The dumplings were plump, springy, and bursting with flavor.
As Ying Shuang chewed, the swallow skin's unique texture combined with the carefully seasoned pork filling, unleashing an explosion of delightful flavors in her mouth. The exceptional culinary experience made her close her eyes in sheer satisfaction.
So delicious!
Opposite Ying Shuang, Fu Ya sat with a plate of rice in front of her.
This was a 2 Star recipe: Bodhi Vegetarian Dish.
If golden fried rice delighted the eyes with its sight of fluffy, plump grains coated in a golden egg wash, Bodhi Vegetarian Dish brought an entirely different kind of allure.
In front of Fu Ya, the rice grains were translucent and perfectly oval, each one appearing plump and glossy. Instead of being pure white, the rice had a light yellowish hue, resembling the luster of jade. The surface glimmered with a subtle sheen, as if polished like a fine gem.
Each grain of rice seemed like a tiny piece of art, showcasing the beauty of simplicity.
Fu Ya cautiously scooped up a spoonful and brought it closer to her nose.
As the spoon neared, an unusual and rich meaty aroma wafted into her nostrils. The fragrance was both intense and savory, intertwined with the light aroma of egg. Taking a deep breath with her eyes closed, Fu Ya felt as though she were holding a spoonful of Dongpo Pork rather than plain rice.
How could simple rice, with no visible meat, possess such an enticing fragrance?
This is downright unfair!
"Mmm!"
As she took a bite, Fu Ya chewed the rice slowly. The aroma intensified, and the seemingly ordinary rice transformed into a symphony of exquisite flavors in her mouth. It felt as though the rice was infused with the essence of various gourmet ingredients, each bite unveiling layers of complexity. Her face flushed slightly with delight as she closed her eyes, savoring every moment.
This Bodhi Vegetarian Dish, created by steaming white rice over nine types of vegetables and nine types of spices before stir-frying it, unleashed its restrained yet distinctive flavors in full.
During the steaming process, the vegetables and spices in the lower steamer layers were cooked simultaneously. Their aromas rose with the steam and were absorbed by the rice in the top layer. This ingenious method infused the rice with their essence without staining its pristine appearance, creating an unmatched taste experience.
What appeared to be ordinary white rice was imbued with the combined flavors of eighteen ingredients.
Afterward, the steamed rice was coated in egg whites and stir-fried to perfection, resulting in a dish with rich meaty undertones and a full-bodied egg aroma.
Bite after bite, Fu Ya enjoyed the Bodhi Vegetarian Dish, a blissful smile gracing her face.
The boss's cooking is always so magical!
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Crunch, crunch
Chewing on the crispy yet tender Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, infused with a rich tomato aroma and a perfect balance of sweet and sour, Qin Yue couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister, try this! The Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish is so good!"
"Ah~"
Qin Yao instinctively opened her mouth, and Qin Yue eagerly picked up a strand of fish fillet, placing it into Qin Yao's mouth.
As Qin Yao chewed, an expression of amazement appeared on her face.
"It really is! This sweet and sour flavor is so appetizing!"
While speaking, she picked up a piece of crescent-shaped meat from the Spicy Fish Head with Chopped Peppers in front of her.
"Qin Yue, you should try this! I found that the slightly red parts of the fish are especially tender and delicious."
Qin Yao guided a piece of crescent meat into her mouth, and almost immediately, a look of delight appeared on her face.
"This is amazing too!"
However, after savoring it for a moment, her expression turned slightly odd.
"Although... it's quite spicy…"
Hastily, she picked up another piece of Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish and placed it in her mouth. Only then did the burning sensation on her tongue begin to subside.
Qin Yue wasn't very good with spicy food. In contrast, Qin Yao absolutely loved it.
When eating hot pot together, Qin Yao always went for the spicy broth, while Qin Yue steered clear of it entirely.
As for dishes like Spicy Fish Head with Chopped Peppers, which lacked the numbing quality of Sichuan pepper but was strongly spicy, it was even harder for Qin Yue to handle.
Delicious? Yes. But also too spicy!
Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish was definitely her favorite.
Thinking of this, Qin Yue couldn't resist picking up another piece of Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish and savoring it.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she raised her head to look at Keke, who was seated across from her.
Keke was quietly enjoying the Bodhi Vegetarian Dish, completely absorbed in the experience.
A playful idea crossed Qin Yue's mind, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She carefully used her chopsticks to pick up a strand of fish fillet, breaking it into smaller pieces.
"Keke?"
"Hmm?" Keke paused mid-bite and looked up, her spoon still in hand.
"Ah~"
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