Chapter 130: Seafood
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“This is a jellyfish. It has a distinct saltiness, so the current recipe is not quite suitable,” Liao Ning realized what went wrong with the girl’s dish when she examined the ingredients. It wasn’t due to an excessive amount of salt but rather because the recipe lacked comprehensiveness.
Elder Jiang couldn’t believe it. “But all these ingredients are fresh and have been tested. How could they turn out salty?”
“The jellyfish grows in seawater. After soaking in seawater for years, it naturally acquires a salty taste. Essentially, all seafood encounters this issue. However, if it’s washed thoroughly and cooked at high temperatures, the saltiness can usually be eliminated.”
Liao Ning glanced at the girl. “The recipe she obtained is for a cold jellyfish dish, so this problem isn’t her fault. Even if the jellyfish had been soaked in clear water, it wouldn’t completely get rid of the salty taste.”
Upon discovering the truth, Elder Jiang deeply regretted his impulsiveness. However, as a prominent figure in the field of ancient food research, he couldn’t bring himself to admit such a minor mistake.
Liao Ning sensed Jiang He’s dilemma and offered him a way out. “Preparing seafood is a challenge that few people can handle. If I hadn’t made jellyfish multiple times in the past and studied them extensively, it would have been very difficult to uncover the key. Elder Jiang, you’ve been immersed in the library all day, relying on the restoration recipes from ancient books. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t be aware of this.”
“This young lady is already so courageous at her age, daring to attempt making seafood. That’s quite rare. Considering the ingredients weren’t processed beforehand, it’s commendable that you managed to preserve the freshness of the jellyfish! Best of luck to you. You have a bright future ahead!” Liao Ning praised the girl’s bravery to try something new.
Elder Jiang understood that Liao Ning was providing him with an opportunity, so he followed her lead and said, “I acted hastily today. I hope you won’t hold it against me. I shouldn’t have unjustly blamed you.”
“Dr. Jiang, there’s no need to apologize. I feel incredibly honored to receive your guidance. I hope you won’t be upset with my previous attitude! ” Ning Ling didn’t expect Elder Jiang, the esteemed senior in the field of ancient food and culture within the Alliance, to apologize to her so sincerely. She felt flattered.
“This particular recipe isn’t well-suited for making jellyfish. Since I’m here today, I happen to know how to prepare a jellyfish salad. I’ll refine this recipe.
Ning Ling, please assist me in documenting it.”
After making her statement, Liao Ning washed her hands and prepared to make the cold jellyfish dish.
She took a portion of the jellyfish skin that Ning Ling had pre-soaked in water and cut it into thin strips. Then, she blanched the jellyfish strips in hot water heated to 800C.
“The jellyfish strips should be quickly scooped out within 30 seconds. If left for too long, they will lose their crispy texture,” Liao Ning explained while Ning Ling swiftly recorded the detailed cooking process.
Once the blanched jellyfish strips were ready, Liao Ning transferred them to a bowl of cold water to cool down rapidly, ensuring the collagen in the jellyfish skin remained intact. After draining the water, she set the jellyfish strips aside as a reserve.
Next, Liao Ning proceeded to prepare a flavorful sauce. She combined chopped fresh chili, garlic, coriander, a spoonful of raw soy sauce, a spoonful of vinegar, an appropriate amount of white sugar and MSG, and a spoonful of oyster sauce in a bowl. Lastly, she added a spoonful of hot oil to enhance the aroma and stirred the sauce until well mixed.
Since the jellyfish strips still retained their inherent saltiness, Liao Ning omitted the addition of salt.
“Give it a try!” Liao Ning pushed the bowl of jellyfish strips towards the others, gesturing for them to sample the dish.
Although Ning Ling was eager to taste it, she patiently waited until Elder Jiang was ready to try it.
As the jellyfish strips and sauce touched her palate, Ning Ling experienced a delightful combination of sour and spicy flavors that danced across her taste buds. The crispy jellyfish strips exhibited a satisfying elasticity. Unable to contain her excitement, Ning Ling took another bite before giving Liao Ning the highest praise. “It’s absolutely delicious! I’m so happy! Liao Ning, you’re amazing! !”
Liao Ning arched an eyebrow. She couldn’t help but notice that Ning Ling’s way of speaking resembled that of her livestream fans. However, considering the significant age difference between them, it was reasonable for Ning Ling to refer to her as “sister.” Liao Ning concluded that she was perhaps overthinking the matter and that Ning Ling wasn’t necessarily a fan of hers..
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