latelenovela Chapter 146: Twice-cooked Pork
Chapter 146: Twice-cooked Pork
There was also a large Chinese cabbage and a small bunch of garlic sprouts in the warehouse.
Shen Cao remembered the piece of pork belly she had just seen in the ice cellar, as well as the meatballs she had fried a couple of days ago. She also had some fish balls she had made before, so she planned to make a stir-fried pork dish and a stew.
She first put the pork belly into a pot, added cold water, scallions, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, and Shaoxing wine, and cooked it.
After Shen Wan and Wan Yue finished their business, Wan Yue wanted to watch Shen Cao cook, so she stayed by her side and watched.
After chopping the scallions, ginger, and garlic, Shen Wan sat down in front of the stove to help watch the fire.
Wanyue was curious, and after watching Shen Cao for a long time, she also picked up a stool and sat down in front of the stove.
Shen Cao saw that the firelight made her face look bright red.
She never imagined that a princess would one day visit her kitchen.
She was very approachable and sat quietly tending the fire.
Shen Cao couldn't help but wonder what kind of imperial concubine could raise such a down-to-earth princess.
Seeing Shen Cao staring at her, Wan Yue quickly straightened her clothes. "Sister Cao'er, is there something dirty on my face?"
"No, I was just infatuated with your good looks."
Wanyue felt a little shy after hearing Shen Cao's words.
"Sister Cao'er is pretty too."
Shen Wan looked at her elder sister's face, then at Wan Yue's face, and said, "Elder sister, I feel like you and Wan Yue look a bit alike."
Shen Cao said confidently, "Good-looking people all look alike."
"I feel like you two look a bit alike."
After hearing her sister's words, Shen Wan looked at Wan Yue's face and felt that she resembled her somewhat.
I'm good-looking too, hehe!!!
My older sister is right. She thinks Young Master Shen is handsome and looks like Sister Wanyue.
Shen Cao took out a cabbage and threw away the slightly wilted leaves.
Then pick off the cabbage leaves one by one and wash them clean.
First, cut the cabbage leaves diagonally, then cut them into small pieces.
Since there were relatively few leaves left, she cut them into small pieces at an angle.
The bottom of the cabbage doesn't absorb flavor easily, but after this treatment, because the cross-section is larger, it will be easier for the flavor to penetrate.
After preparing the cabbage, the pork belly was also blanched.
She took the pork belly out of the water, washed it clean, and then divided it into two parts, slicing one part into thin slices.
Some of them are cut into thicker slices that are slightly thicker than thin slices.
Garlic sprouts are also cut into sections by cutting the leafy parts, and the stems are cut diagonally into sections of the same length.
A small handful of wood ear mushrooms, a small handful of dried bean curd sticks, and a small handful of glass noodles were soaking in the basin.
With everything almost ready, Shen Cao prepared to start stir-frying the twice-cooked pork.
She first poured the thinly sliced pork belly into the pot and stir-fried it.
There was no oil in the pan, but as the pork belly was continuously stir-fried at high temperature, the fat from the pork belly was rendered out.
Then add two slices of ginger and stir-fry until both sides of the pork belly are golden brown. Remove the pork belly from the pan.
Leave the rendered pork fat in the pan, then add fermented bean paste, chopped scallions, and minced garlic.
After stir-frying until the oil turns red, add the pork belly and the stems of the garlic sprouts and stir-fry for another ten seconds.
Pour in soy sauce, seasoning powder, a little sugar, pepper, a pinch of MSG, and oyster sauce.
Then add the remaining garlic chive leaves and continue stir-frying.
The twice-cooked pork is ready once the garlic sprouts are just cooked through.
Even before they started frying, the two people tending the fire could smell the aroma.
Thinking there would be many people, Shen Cao cooked a lot and served two plates.
Just after they finished serving, the two of them moved to Shen Cao's side without anyone noticing.
Shen Cao handed chopsticks to the two of them, "Try it, is the taste okay?"
The two happily took the chopsticks and picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork.
Shen Wan was experienced; she blew on it before putting it in her mouth, and nodded after finishing, "Delicious."
Wanyue fared much worse; she put the meat directly into her mouth, and it was so hot that tears welled up in her eyes.
However, she was too embarrassed to spit it out, so she forced herself to eat it despite the scalding heat, and nodded to say it was delicious.
"If it's delicious, then it's delicious. Why are you crying?"
"Be more careful next time, don't be in such a hurry."
"Haste makes waste, and nobody's going to take it from you."
Wanyue nodded, indicating that she understood.
Now that it's getting cool, Shen Cao needs to make another stew, which will take a while, so she puts the twice-cooked pork next to the stove to keep it warm.
Before making the stew, Shen Cao turned over the stewed chestnut chicken; the broth had reduced by half.
She took two small bowls and put two pieces of chicken in each of their bowls.
"Here you go, taste it to see if it's salty."
Wanyue finally understood that when Sister Cao'er mentioned tasting the saltiness, she meant giving them special treatment so they could eat it earlier.
She will help her sister with cooking from now on.
Having learned from her previous experience, this time Wanyue followed Shen Wan's example and blew on it for a while before putting it in her mouth.
The chicken was stewed until it was very flavorful, with a savory and slightly sweet taste.
"good to eat."
"Sister Cao'er, you are so amazing, you can do everything."
After finishing her meal, Wanyue didn't forget to flatter Shen Cao.
"My older sister is really amazing. I'll have her make you wolf tooth potatoes and candied sweet potatoes tomorrow."
"It's so delicious! My friends ask me every few days when they can come to my house for a meal."
After listening, Wanyue looked at Shen Cao with anticipation, "Sister Cao'er, I've never heard of this before, I want to eat it."
"Okay, I'll make it for you tomorrow." Her plan for tomorrow was to show off her skills to Shen Yu'an and the others, and let them know how amazing her "secret seasoning" was.
Heat the wok and add a spoonful of lard.
The white lard melted when heated and turned into a liquid.
Wanyue had never seen it before and was very curious.
Shen Wan stood by and explained to her.
Shen Cao smiled as she listened to their interaction.
Unexpectedly, one day this princess would actually see the world in her kitchen, with her sister helping to explain things to her.
Pour in the remaining pork.
Animal fat makes stews more fragrant, so Shen Cao didn't use rapeseed oil.
After stir-frying the pork until it turns slightly browned, add the scallions, ginger, and garlic and continue to stir-fry.
Then add a little hot pot base and soy sauce and continue to stir-fry.
Once the hot pot broth has melted, add the cabbage stalks and stir-fry until they change color. Then add salt, seasoning powder, and oyster sauce to taste.
Add the soaked and cleaned wood ear mushrooms, dried bean curd sticks, glass noodles, and the remaining cabbage leaves.
After adding the previously fried meatballs and fishballs, cover the pot and continue simmering.
He gestured to Shen Wan to turn the fire down to a low flame.
She lifted the lid of the stewing chicken pot; the sauce had reduced enough, so she told Shen Wan to turn up the heat.
The chicken has been stewed until very tender and flavorful.
After collecting the juices, Shen Wan used tongs to remove the fire from the pot.
Two bowls of chicken were also served.
It must be said that this rooster was big and fat, and the stewed chicken broth had a layer of oil floating on the surface.
Most of it is just the fat from the chicken.
It smells so good! The chicken has a subtle sweet chestnut flavor.
"Cao'er, is dinner ready?" Wei Siyu's voice suddenly came.