Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 61
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 61: Bone Soup Malatang
Jiang Shuyao looked at the big pot of sliced vegetables in front of her and said nothing.
"How is it?" Zhou-shi took a piece of winter melon and showed it to Jiang Shuyao, looking at her eagerly.
"It's amazing." Jiang Shuyao looked at the pots full of vegetables. No matter what kind of vegetables, they were cut into slices with the same width and similar shape, "Second sister-in-law, you don't need to practice knife skill anymore. This is enough."
Zhou-shi sighed in relief, then raised her eyebrows and smiled triumphantly, "I really have a talent with knives."
Jiang Shuyao nodded, and the conversation changed, "But so many vegetables... what should I do?"
Zhou-shi was stunned, and she felt awakened, "Ah, that's right." She looked at the various vegetables in the pot with annoyance, "It's okay, send it to the main kitchen. It's all for the servants to eat."
Then she threw a question to the master she had just worshipped yesterday, "What kind of dishes can we make with these miscellaneous vegetables?"
Jiang Shuyao didn't feel embarrassed and thought for a while, "Malatang, hot pot, stew, spicy stir-fry... Many things can be done. I will explain it to you when we make it."
"Let's make Malatang today. The first step is to stir-fry the hotpot base. Here, I will show you the aniseed spices first."
Jiang Shuyao patiently explained to Zhou-shi, and she listened attentively. Sometimes she would make a note if she knew that she could not remember.
After showing the aniseed to her, Jiang Shuyao took her to know the ingredients, processing methods, the effects, different combinations, and so on.
Although Zhou-shi was a little confused, she kept up with her rhythm throughout the whole process. She sighed that cooking is really interesting and magical.
After finishing the basic knowledge, Jiang Shuyao started to fry the spicy hotpot base.
There are many variants of Malatang, Chuan Chuan Malatang, Bone Soup Malatang, Clay Pot Malatang, etc. There are slight differences in each region. Sichuan and Chongqing's Malatang are spicy and hot, with a layer of red oil on the surface. The smell is full of spicy and savory aroma.
The Northern Malatang pays more attention to the word "fresh." The oil is not so heavy, and they make the soup base with rich bone broth, usually with a spoonful of thick sesame sauce, which is delicious and rich.
Zhou-shi took notes frantically and exclaimed, "You have so many ideas, third sister-in-law."
Anyway, there was plenty of time, and Jiang Shuyao was very patient, so she explained step by step in detail and asked Zhou-shi to try it when she finally start cooking.
"It doesn't matter if it is done badly. Practice makes perfect in cooking, especially the seasoning, which relies on a keen sense of taste and accumulated experience."
Zhou-shi nodded.
After Jiang Shuyao stir-fried a little bit of the base ingredients, Zhou-shi dipped her chopsticks to taste.
Strictly speaking, this was the first time she had tasted "spicy."
A strong spiciness on the tip of her tongue ignited like fire. She was stunned and hissed, "What kind of spice is this spicy?"
Jiang Shuyao shows her the dried chili, "Here, this thing, it is called chili. It can be used in a whole, or chopped, or ground. We only have a small amount. My mother asked someone to find it from overseas, and I just planted it in Zhuangzi. It is estimated that we can harvest in late autumn."
Zhou-shi nodded and sighed, "I like the taste. It's as refreshing as drinking."
She chose some base ingredients to taste, it was salty and spicy, and the taste was very heavy and addictive.
Zhou-shi then started to stir-fry the base ingredients and fry them step by step according to the ratio and heating steps she memorized.
Compared with the average culinary rookie, Zhou-shi is extremely talented. She is neither messy nor lost. After she finished cooking, Jiang Shuyao was a little surprised at her progress.
Zhou-shi smelled the spicy flavor and said anxiously, "I don't know how it tastes."
"Just try, and you will find out."
Jiang Shuyao took a chopstick and tasted a little. Zhou-shi looked at her nervously.
Jiang Shuyao frowned.
Zhou-shi became even more nervous and tightly clasped the little book in her hand.
"Second sister-in-law." Jiang Shuyao put down her chopsticks and said solemnly, "I think you may have some talent in cooking." The taste is different from that of Jiang Shuyao, but it is still delicious and very successful.
Zhou said "Ah," then jumped down excitedly and took chopsticks to try.
She herself was surprised, "It was a success." She said happily, "Do I really have a talent for cooking?"
This novel is hosted on pure tl. com / do not repost or steal!
Jiang Shuyao laughed with her, coaxing her, and said, "Yes, yes."
Zhou-shi's confidence doubled. She geared up and wished to stir up all the spices in the kitchen immediately, but Jiang Shuyao stopped her.
When the two of them finished making Malatang, it was almost time for dinner.
There was a big pot full of Malatang, and the two of them couldn't finish it. So Jiang Shuyao thought about sending some to the first branch and leaving some of the rest for Xie Xun, which can basically clean it.
Before they managed to send it, Xu-shi came over first.
Xu-shi came to Zhou-shi to share the account, but seeing that Jiang Shuyao was also there, she was surprised, "Third sister-in-law, why are you here? Don't you just come over for lunch every day?"
Jiang Shuyao explained, "Yesterday, second sister-in-law said that she would learn cooking from me, so I stay here to teach her all day long."
"Learning to cook?" Xu-shi looked at Zhou-shi.
Zhou-shi was in a moment of excitement. She put aside her unhappiness with Xu-shi and said, "Yes, my third sister praise my talent."
Xu-shi looked at Jiang Shuyao for confirmation, and Jiang Shuyao nodded.
Zhou-shi immediately saw that Xu-shi did not believe her words and said, "The Malatang I made just came out of the pot. Third sister-in-law said it tastes good."
Originally she didn't want Xu-shi to disturb the two of them, but in order to fight her, she had to say, "How about you try it?"
It has been a long time since Xu-shi saw Zhou-shi 's energetic appearance, and she hesitantly nodded when she heard the words.
The three of them sat down at the dinner table, and the maid served the bowl.
When Xu-shi looked at the Malatang in the bowl, she was instantly silly, "This..." She thought Zhou-shi had really learned how to cook, but she brought a bowl of soup.
Jiang Shuyao introduced, "This is hot and spicy soup. Bone broth was used as the base material, and it was boiled with various ingredients, including meat and vegetables. It looks rough, but it is delicious."
Xu-shi looked into the bowl hesitantly, wondering if Jiang Shuyao was only making Zhou-shi happy.
Zhou-shi smelled the rich and savory scent of Malatang and couldn't wait to say, "Okay, move your chopsticks."
The bone broth is milky white, and the base was only to enhance the flavor. The bone broth flavor is more dominant, so there is only light and shallow oil on the surface.
The soup is rich in colors, white lotus root slices, black fungus, green chrysanthemum, purple eggplant... colorfully mixed together. The shapes are quite different, round mushrooms, long green vegetables, fish of various sizes, and many types of crab sticks.
A large spoonful of thick sesame sauce was poured in the center, sprinkled with chopped green onion, coriander, and diced chili. It looks rich and casual, which makes people curious about its taste.
She stirred the Malatang with chopsticks, and the sesame paste melts into the soup. Heat diffused from the soup, and a strong fragrance overflows. The freshness of bone soup and the slightly spicy salty hemp are rich in layers and arouses the appetite.
She picked up a piece of fungus. The soup base with sesame paste is slightly thick, and the black fungus absorbed the brown and white soup. One mouthful is full of fresh fragrance.
The fungus is crispy, and the base material is not heavy. It does not cover up the aroma of the vegetables themselves but uses the rich freshness, lightness, and spiciness to bring out the taste of the ingredients.
She picked up a tender fish ball and bit into the delicate fish meat. The heat inside rushes out to make the tip of her tongue slightly numb. The freshness of the bone broth and the freshness of the fish itself are mixed together very beautifully.
Vegetables, meat dishes, bone soup, and noodles are mixed together. Each ingredient retains the original aroma and absorbs the taste of each other. The aromas of various colors are scattered in a bowl of thick white soup, and they merge and penetrate each other.
Obviously, there are many ingredients, but there is no weird sensation of taste. The pure bone broth is slightly numbing and spicy but also refreshing and warming the stomach. After adding sesame paste, it adds a mellow flavor. Over time, the ingredients become more and more delicious, making people completely unable to stop.
Xu-shi's skepticism at the beginning turned to a wholehearted tasting attitude, eating one bite after another, making her stomach warm and sweat on her forehead.
After eating the vegetables and meat clean, there are still some noodles in the bowl. At this time, the noodles are the most delicious.
After soaked in the soup long enough, the noodles became slightly soggy, but the inside was still chewy. At this time, the soup base has become thicker, and when you stir up the noodles, it is covered with fresh and mellow soup. When you bite it down, the aroma of sesame paste is mixed with the aroma of noodles.
The freshness of vegetables, the meaty flavor of meat, and the spicy and salty flavor of the base material are all melted into the plain and light noodles. They are soft and smooth, rich and delicious, with rich flavors. After swallowing, there is a long aftertaste in the mouth.
Xu-shi didn't care to be reserved and dignified. She took a spoon and drank all the soup base. At this time, the soup base is no longer a simple soup but the essence of Malatang. All the ingredients contributed to the flavor. It looks fresh, mellow, and complex.
After Xu-shi finished eating, she realized that her little gaffe and quickly patted the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief to restore her dignified appearance.
As soon as she looked up, she found that Zhou-shi was looking at her questioningly.
Xu-shi didn't change her expression, and she said softly, "It tastes very good, as expected from third sister-in-law."
Zhou-shi raised her eyebrows, "I made the one you ate."
"That was also taught by third sister-in-law." Xu-shi continued.
"Oh, yes. Yao Yao taught me everything." Zhou-shi agreed like it didn't hurt or itchy.
Xu-shi's smile suddenly stiffened, "Second sister-in-law is just an apprentice. You are not close. There is no need to call third sister-in-law's name."
Zhou-shi said, "It's sister-in-law who doesn't understand. We are really close."
This novel is hosted on pure tl. com / do not repost or steal!
"Oh, isn't it? Why don't I know... Third sister-in-law, haven't you been together for long?" Xu-shi is still gentle, turned her head to look at Jiang Shuyao as if she was sincerely asking for advice.
Jiang Shuyao slipped a drop of cold sweat silently and said weakly, "Uh... what."
At this moment, a maid suddenly came over, interrupted the awkward and stiff atmosphere, and saluted, "Madam, the third master is here, saying that he is looking for the third lady."
It's really a good time that he come!
Jiang Shuyao let out a big sigh of relief and looked at the courtyard gate.
Xie Xun went back to the courtyard and heard the maid said Jiang Shuyao hadn't come back. He suddenly became a little alert.
She only had lunch in the second branch in the past, but she would come back and had dinner with him. He hesitated for a while and went to the second branch. When he arrived at the second branch, he heard the maid said that Xu-shi was also there. He suddenly felt that it was as expected.
After the maid replied, he stepped into the yard and was relieved to see the three people sitting at the table.
If the children are not there, it's okay. It is not a big family dinner- Eh? Something is wrong.
"Third brother." Xu-shi and Zhou-shi got up to greet, interrupting Xie Xun's thoughts.
Xie Xun bowed his hand in return.
Jiang Shuyao stood up decisively and said to Zhou-shi and Xu-shi, "Since my husband is here, I'll go first." The atmosphere is not right, so I withdraw first.
Seeing that she just ran towards him with a simple sentence, the big rock in Xie Xun's heart finally fell to the ground.
He suddenly felt that his worries were unnecessary, and his gaze at Xu-shi and Zhou-shi became much milder.
Jiang Shuyao ran too fast. Zhou-shi said, "Oh," but without stopping, she had already ran to Xie Xun's side.
"She is so anxious to see him," she muttered.
Xu-shi subconsciously agreed, "Yes."
"As if she hasn't seen him for several days. What is that for? Does she like third brother so much?" Zhou-shi grumbled.
Xu-shi's expression was dignified and gentle, but the tone was also resentful, "No."
After speaking, the two were dumbfounded.
They turned their heads. You look at me, and I look at you. A second later, they hummed at the same time and awkwardly did not start any fight.
Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun stepped out of the yard. The first sentence after she left the yard was, "Did you buy alcohol?" Yesterday he bought too little, and she did not finished drinking at all.
Xie Xun frowned and looked down at her, "This is the first thing you said to me?" His tone was a little wronged.
Jiang Shuyao couldn't figure it out, "...otherwise?"
"You and your sisters-in-law are very happy." So happy at their home and didn't eat with him anymore. She really seemed to wish to move to the second room.
"Yes." Jiang Shuyao did not hear his resentment and nodded frankly.
Xie Xun choked and almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.
Then he heard Jiang Shuyao say, "I just made dinner, and it's still hot. I will ask the maid to take a bowl back for you to eat. It's a big bowl, and you will be absolutely full." There is a lot left in the kitchen, and it can't be wasted.
The flowers bloom, the birds sing, everything awakens. Xie Xun's world regains its beauty.
"Okay." The corners of his mouth curled uncontrollably.
He thinks too much, she obviously remembers him, look how considerate she is.
[T/N: The word "mala" is a combination of the Chinese characters ma (麻), meaning "to numb," and la (辣), meaning "spicy." It is a very specific kind of hot pot. Mala soup base is made by adding Sichuan pepper to chili oil. It has a spicy aroma and a fiery taste.]
This novel is hosted on pure tl. com / do not repost or steal!
If you enjoyed Serena’s work, buy her a ko-fi! 