BXBX NOVEL Chapter 261: Innovation
[May Leave Replacement Update]
“Let’s try it one by one, starting with the snake orchid.”
Qin Lang opened the large bag on the table, and took out one of the three small bags from inside.
In the bag was a spice that looked like dried flowers, its petals long and curved like a coiled snake.
This spice exhibited a deep purple appearance, and when brought close to the nose, one could smell a scent somewhat similar to citrus.
This was Snake Orchid, a spice that does not exist on Earth, but is quite common in this world.
A quick understanding of it emerged in Qin Lang’s mind.
Snake orchid, is neutral in nature, slightly sour, and has a citrusy aroma.
Adding it to the cooking process of the crab powder…
In a flash, Qin Lang already had an idea.
“Let’s shell the crab first.” He gave the steamed hairy crab, which was ready under Cooking Acceleration, to Dan Bao, and then started to heat oil in the pan.
With Dan Bao’s adeptness at shelling crabs, by the time the oil was heated, the hairy crab had already been dissected into crab roe, crab paste, crab meat, and crab shells.
He started by adding crab shells to the hot oil, initiating the stir frying and cooking process of the crab oil.
Masterfully exploiting Cooking Acceleration again, the hot oil in the pot turned from its original golden hue to an enticing bright red at a rate visible to the naked eye over low heat.
After removing the crab shells, Qin Lang grabbed about ten snake orchid stems and fried them together with the minced ginger, which is used in the cooking process of crab powder.
With the sizzling of oil, an unusual aroma burst forth under the stimulation of the hot oil, aggressively rushing to the face with the rising heat.
The eyes of Qin Lang and the two little ones lit up at the same time.
Having jointly prepared crab powder many times, they were already well versed in the taste of each cooking step and corresponding semi-finished product.
But the aroma that emanated after adding snake orchid was completely different from that of adding only minced ginger before!
The aroma of minced ginger was permeated with strands of citrus scent, and at the same time, another mysterious and elusive aroma was present.
The taste of snake orchid is only similar to citrus. As a spice, it naturally has its own unique flavour.
Identifying this faint exotic aroma, a smile emerged on Qin Lang’s face.
This aroma was not unfamiliar to him.
Although he had never added this spice to his own cooking before, he had encountered its flavor numerous times in the many local delicacies that he had tasted in the past.
Who knows what kind of change the taste of snake orchid will bring to crab powder after the cooking of crab powder is completely finished.
After frying the aroma out, Qin Lang neatly took out the increasingly shrivelled and completely blackened Snake Orchid and the golden fried ginger, and then added the crab roe and crab paste.
Considering the slight sourness of the snake orchid itself, Qin Lang slightly reduced the amount of vinegar in the process of cooking the crab powder. The other steps were exactly the same as those in the normal cooking process of crab powder.
Soon, a plate of crab powder, which seemed to have no changes on the surface, was ready.
But smelling a faint additional exotic fragrance from the crab powder, Qin Lang knew that the flavor of this crab powder must be different from the original one.
“Have a taste.” Qin Lang served it to the two little ones, and then began to taste
it himself.
The next moment, the eyes of one person and two spirits brightened simultaneously.
As the two little ones eat Qin Lang’s cooked food every day, their taste buds have become picky, and they have unknowingly developed a not weak food appreciation ability.
As for Qin Lang, as a chef, he was certainly not lacking in this respect.
They quickly realized the difference between the modified version of crab powder and the original formula.
“Does it taste a little like crab-stuffed oranges?” Qin Lang tasted it and spoke thoughtfully.
Citrus and crab can make a good pairing, a fact proven by the dish Crab-Stuffed Orange.
At this moment, the inherent smell of Snake Orchid, giving off essence of citrus, perfectly blends into the crab roe, granting it a unique hint of fresh sweetness. This sweetness complements the natural taste of the crab, making it even more appealing and appetising.
However, there is a notable difference.
During this process, the gentle fragrance of Snake Orchid plays an interesting part. It acts like a glue, binding together two distinct flavors and giving the crab roe a peculiar aftertaste.
With its help, the taste of crab roe has indeed taken a mini leap.
If quantified by the Flavor Value, this improvement would be at least a Flavor Value+5-
“Let’s try the remaining two herbs!” said Qin Lang, eager to see more of his dish’s enhancement since Ye Cangqing’s suggestion turned out to be valid.
Soon, the trio gets busy again.
Red hemp seeds, a special spice that resembles sesame seeds in appearance but differs significantly in taste, possesses a deliciously strong fragrance of dried chili and can enkindle the unique, spicy numbing flavor of Szechuan peppercorn. When added to the crab roe, the roe would carry a hint of hot taste. It gives a sensation of transforming crab roe into spicy crab.
But after tasting, Qin Lang had to admit: it matched perfectly with rice.
The distinctive spicy numbness, as long as appropriately used, doesn’t ruin the deliciousness of the crab roe at all. The spicy numbness would be a delight for guests who enjoy spicy food.
Although making spicy crab roe fried rice might seem unconventional, as spicy taste is rarely added in this local dish, Qin Lang from another world declared – I am the mainstream!
As for the Wooden Crab Fight, that gave Qin Lang a different kind of surprise. This is a chunky spice, crimson on the outside and looking a lot like a cooked crab at first glance.
Its flavor is also unique, somewhat a blend of sweet ginger and chili sauce. When chopped and mixed with crab oil for stir-frying, its flavor transforms into something magical. Once it mingles with the crab’s savouriness, the transformation brings about a synergy that’s more than the sum of its parts. When added individually as a spice, Wooden Crab Fight delivers the greatest boost in flavor!
After trying out all three spices, Qin Lang’s work is far from complete.
He still needs to try pairing the spices in a two-by-two combination and see if he can use all three at once…
Only when the electric bell sounded again, announcing the end of the communication phase and the start of the evening’s third operation, did Qin Lang snapped back from his intense experimentation.
What’s unfortunate is that the Snake Orchid is incompatible with the other two spices.
When its flavor clashes with the hot taste, they seem to harm each other, unable to coexist.
However, red hemp seeds can be paired with Wooden Crab Fight.
While the former is primarily known for its numb spiciness, the latter also carries a hint of spiciness.
Merging the flavors of these two spices could further enhance the taste. Therefore, it’s quite clear what Qin Lang needs to choose.
He has decided to embark on the unconventional journey of making spicy crab roe fried rice!
After deciding on the spices pairing, Qin Lang conducts some ratio testing and finally figures out the proportion for preparing the two spices.
It may not be the best, but it’s definitely the best he can do in such a short timeframe.
Looking at the approaching cruise ship under the evening glow, Qin Lang is full of anticipation.
He wonders how the guests would react to the newly-formulated Crab Roe Fried Rice.
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