Chapter 1090: Chapter 445: Two Pieces of Braised Pork Belly Cured Director Zeng’s Body Anxiety! [Subscription Request]
"..."
The employees praised Ma Zhiqiang’s skills, feeling more and more satisfying as they ate.
For those who aren’t used to eating buns, rice goes really well with the stew too.
Lin Xu picked out vermicelli from his own bowl for Shen Jiayue, then took a few slices of pork belly from her bowl, and while eating buns, he said:
"As a child, I loved attending weddings and funerals in the countryside hometown. Besides the main course which included eighteen dishes and four soups, there were the big pot dishes before the event, which were so satisfying to eat."
Shen Jiayue slurped down a big mouthful of vermicelli and curiously asked:
"When we go back for our wedding, will we make it too?"
"Yes, such things usually need to be prepared in advance. By then, neighbors, relatives, and friends will come to help, and the food will be big pot dishes."
"Then I’ll eat more by then to taste the big pot dishes you liked as a child... By the way, next week we’re going to shoot our wedding photos. There are several locations to choose from, several styles—there’s urban scenery, like shooting at the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube; royal gardens, like going to the Imperial Palace; or we could go to Universal Film City or other places."
Choosing locations?
Lin Xu said:
"You decide, and if not, we’ll go to all of them. Oh, for the royal gardens, you can also go to the Fishing Platform or the courtyard of the Yanjing Hotel, the scenery is nice."
"Okay, then I’ll take charge."
Although he seemed unconcerned on the surface, Lin Xu was still a bit excited inside.
Going to shoot wedding photos with Shen Baobao, the day of the wedding is getting closer, this feeling of happiness is truly great.
After the meal.
Everyone went about their own business.
After the lunch rush.
Lin Xu brought out a large clay pot and began making Braised Pork Belly.
He took the meat cooked in the morning, placed it on the cutting board, first divided the meat into long strips five centimeters wide, then cut them again into five centimeters in length, slicing all the meat into large chunks.
The square meat chunks were very tempting, and after cutting the meat, Lin Xu began preparing the ingredients.
A basket of clean small scallions, a handful of thick slices of ginger, a small bowl of Crystal Sugar, a large bottle of Rice Wine, a large bowl of Light Soy Sauce, a small bowl of Dark Soy Sauce.
These ingredients paired with the meat chunks make up all the ingredients for Braised Pork Belly.
He cleaned the clay pot, placed a layer of bamboo at the bottom, neatly arranged the scallions on the very bottom, then placed ginger, next he took the sliced meat chunks over, arranging them skin-side down.
After everything was put in, he poured in about two and a half pounds of Shaoxing Rice Wine, then added the prepared Crystal Sugar, Light Soy Sauce, and Dark Soy Sauce, added water to cover the pork, and started to stew.
No complex seasonings, no unnecessary ingredients.
Yet, it creates a dish passed down through thousands of years.
This is the charm of Braised Pork Belly, also the charm of Chinese cooking.
Using high heat to bring the clay pot to a boil, at this point, the lid shouldn’t be covered. It needs to be cooked on high heat for ten minutes to let the wine aroma evaporate, carrying away any bad smells.
If the lid is covered too early, the wine aroma won’t evaporate outside, and it would soak into the meat causing it to turn sour.
After ten minutes, the wine aroma in the Rice Wine had evaporated, leaving a rich fragrance.
This is when the heat is lowered to keep a slight boil, cover the lid, and begin a long simmer of about two hours.
This dish doesn’t count as complicated, but attention must be paid to certain details.
Such as scalding the Pork Skin, cooking it fully first to set the shape, and boiling it in the clay pot on high heat for ten minutes initially—these details, if overlooked, would greatly reduce the quality of Braised Pork Belly.
Che Zai watched very seriously, he didn’t expect Braised Pork Belly to be so simple.
But simple was one thing, trying to make it at the place he’s staying while on his break wouldn’t be easy, because the dormitory doesn’t have high-end Shaoxing Rice Wine like at the store.
Just the bottle Lin Xu poured into the pot, starts at at least five hundred.
It’s completely unnecessary to be extravagant like this just to eat Braised Pork Belly.
He looked at Lin Xu and asked:
"Boss, can it be made without Shaoxing Rice Wine?"
"Yes, you can pour beer, cook it a bit longer before covering the lid, it will taste great too, and have its own unique flavor... A good chef should flexibly adjust dishes, not be too restrictive. If you want to give it a Western touch, you can also pour in a bottle of red wine, it tastes pretty good too."
A Chinese chef, if not good at adapting and always sticking to the rules, would be a failure.
At four in the afternoon.
Zeng Xiaoqi, wearing a beige trench coat, with a scarf tied around her neck, stepping lightly in black long boots, walked briskly from the entrance of the TV station to the nearby subway station.
Who would’ve thought that such a stunning urban lady would be anxious about her figure every day.
She always felt she was the most unattractive in her circle of friends and hoped desperately that her bust size could increase just a little, even just one size would be better than being subtly bullied by certain people all the time.
Taking the subway to Yingchun Street station, after getting off, she wrapped herself in the trench coat more tightly and headed straight for Lin Ji’s Food.
Now, what sustains her every day is the variety of food at Lin Ji’s.
She wasn’t sure if the Braised Pork Belly was ready.
Hopefully, eating Braised Pork Belly could help her develop a bit more.
Xiongxiong, wouldn’t you two get some spirit? Not saying you need to catch up with them, but at least help me outpace Xiao Qing.
Hmm, as long as I’m not tied for last place, it’s fine.
That’s not a high standard, right?
Walking into the store, I saw Shu Yun, who was a 36C, organizing customer information, and curiously asked:
"Dinner hasn’t started yet?"
"Almost... Oh right, little Qiqi, your Braised Pork Belly that you’re relying on for your second growth spurt is ready. Hurry and eat, maybe..."
Shu Yun made a gesture like a rogue, squeezing with both hands, which made Director Zeng blush:
"Who... who eats Braised Pork Belly for that reason? I just... just crave it, unlike you, who is never satisfied and even wants to surpass the boss lady."
Shu Yun: "!!!!!!"
I didn’t, I’m not, don’t talk nonsense!
If you keep saying that, I’ll sue you for defamation!
Seeing Shu Yun’s slightly embarrassed expression, Zeng Xiaoqi felt pleased, rubbed Dundun’s head, and stepped upstairs in her boots.
Hmph, with besties, you’ve got to stab each other like this.
Otherwise, how can you show off the love-hate friendship of plastic sisters?
She walked up the stairs triumphantly, and as soon as she reached the second floor, she saw Lin Xu coming out of the kitchen with a small basin of quivering red meat.
"Oh, Xiaoqi, you’re here. Hurry up and wash your hands to eat, your ordered Braised Pork Belly, try it, see if it’s to your liking."
After more than two hours of stewing, the meat had become like jelly, quivering, giving off a melting feeling.
Once the meat was cooked, Lin Xu poured the broth into an iron pot, added a ladle of Rice Wine, and simmered it again.
During the stewing, most of the wine aroma evaporated, so now a little Rice Wine is added to enhance the aroma.
When the broth thickens, drizzle a bit of Seasoning Oil over the broth, stir well, and then pour it over the meat.
Only by cooking it this way, can Braised Pork Belly resemble an amber-like appearance and color.
Zeng Xiaoqi was unceremonious, put down her bag, washed her hands at the kitchen entrance, and picked up a bowl of rice to eat with Shen Jiayue.
The meat chunks were large, almost feeling like they wouldn’t fit in the bowl.
Taking a bite, the rich flavor flooded the mouth; the meat was exceptionally tender, feeling like drinking rather than eating.
Especially the pork skin and the fatty part, truly melting in the mouth.
"Wow, this is delicious! So satisfying!"
Eating a big piece of meat and scooping a bite of rice felt particularly enjoyable and satisfying.
The taste of the meat was also excellent, intertwining sweetness and saltiness with a rich wine aroma, incredibly tasty.
After gobbling down a large piece of Braised Pork Belly, Zeng Xiaoqi eagerly picked up another piece.
Both Xiongxiong need a supplement; no favoritism allowed.
Shen Jiayue curiously asked:
"Xiaoqi, do you really believe Yan Bao’s nonsense?"
"Better believe it might be true, who knows..."
She slurped and bit off a large piece of meat.
Hmm, satisfying!
I just love this oily and rich texture, it’s simply marvelous.
Eating meat and rice like this gave an increasingly hearty feeling of eating large chunks of meat and drinking big bowls of wine.
Life is just a fleeting century; it’s better to enjoy a delicious meal than to fret over unchangeable things.
As she continued eating, Zeng Xiaoqi suddenly felt that there were so many wonderful dishes in the world yet to be tasted, and it was unnecessary to stress over some extra weight on her chest.
While she was thinking, Shu Yun, who had finished her work, and Chen Yan, who had just gotten off work, came up.
Seeing Zeng Xiaoqi gulping down the meat, they both chuckled.
"Yo, Director Zeng is really digging in, how’s it? Feel bigger?"
"If it works, I’ll eat four pieces later..."
Zeng Xiaoqi glanced at her two girlfriends:
"I don’t care about those things anymore, life is short, enjoying gourmet food is the true way... I’ve made peace with my Xiongxiong."
Hmm?
What’s going on?
Chen Yan and Shu Yun looked at each other in confusion.
Just eating Braised Pork Belly, how did it lead to life enlightenment?
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This Chapter is 5800 words, asking for Monthly Tickets, guys!
