Food: Random stalls, customers chase me all over the country

Chapter 544-I also tried fried five-spice

Fried Five Spice is a traditional Fujian snack, made primarily with pork tenderloin and fat, along with tofu skin, using a deep-frying and blanching method. The finished product is a russet-brown color, fragrant and crispy, with a smooth and sweet filling. It's especially delicious when eaten hot. The name "Fried Five Spice" comes from the five-spice powder used in the seasoning.

Wang Fan had never seen this fried five-spiced food before, but he has always been very interested in local specialties. He took the box of fried five-spiced food handed over by Shen Teng, picked up one, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

"Click..."

With more than 20 years of experience, Brother Jie has already mastered the "frying" step to perfection. As soon as Wang Fan's teeth exerted force, the crispy skin began to make crisp sounds between Wang Fan's teeth.

When you bite through the skin, a rich meaty aroma gushes out from the broken edge, and the fresh and sweet taste is very characteristic of Xiamen.

Perhaps it is true that high-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods. Xiamen is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and its seafood resources are both abundant and fresh. This type of ingredient does not require a lot of seasoning at all, and it is top-notch delicious just by blanching it.

This leads to the fact that people in Xiamen have a light taste. They prefer light and sweet flavors and are very sensitive to salt and pepper.

The fried five-spice tastes a little light, but the sweet taste is more obvious. You can also tell that the pork used is very fresh, and the taste of fresh meat cannot be replaced by anything else.

Wang Fan's taste buds were rapidly analyzing the ingredients of this snack: fresh pork, water chestnuts, scallions, five-spice powder, sugar, salt, tofu skin...

Every ingredient and every seasoning in the fried five-spice dish has no secrets on his tongue. Sometimes he can even accurately grasp the proportions of ingredients just by sniffing them. He can be called a human testing machine.

Wang Fan unconsciously gave it a score in his mind. The frying temperature was very good. The water chestnuts and scallions had a lot of moisture, which resulted in a bit too much water in the filling. Although the mouthfeel was a bit smoother, the taste was a bit worse. There was not much salt in the filling, so it seemed lighter. The taste of sugar was also a bit too obvious.

However, he naturally would not start a verbal attack in front of the other person's boss. Even if two people have a good relationship, they should save face, let alone they just met by chance.

"Brother Jie's skill in frying the puff pastry has reached perfection. It tastes really good."

Brother Jie laughed when he heard this. This was something he was very proud of.

Normally, he often thinks about improving his cooking skills and has been practicing frying puff pastry for several years.

"I heard from Xiao Teng that you can cook too. Let's have a discussion when we have time."

Shen Teng wanted to roll his eyes when he heard this. This Jie brother only listens to good things. Didn't you hear my brother Wang only praised your crispy skin? He didn't even mention your most important meat filling!

What does this mean? It means there is still a huge room for improvement.

Why are you still trying to exchange culinary skills at this time? You should immediately ask others what’s wrong with the filling of their fried five-spiced food and how to improve it!

Shen Teng knew Wang Fan's personality, so he didn't beat around the bush and directly exposed Brother Jie's past: "Brother Wang, please give Brother Jie some advice on the fillings. He insists on using good meat, but the cost is not low, and his business is about to be snatched away by others."

Brother Jie's smile froze on his face, and he looked at Wang Fan awkwardly: "Actually... it's not that bad..."

Wang Fan laughed inwardly. Sure enough, a man would never want to lose face in front of strangers. He didn't say anything. It was breakfast time, and such a good stall had few customers. The ingredients they prepared weren't very special, which was enough to explain the problem.

However, he did not point it out. The fact that Shen Teng asked him to help him again and again meant that Shen Teng thought this person was worth helping. Since his friend had spoken, he had to help.

"I'm a native northerner and have never had fried five-spice before. But compared to our northern taste, this fried five-spice is a little too sweet and the taste is a little bland."

Brother Jie nodded. This was not the first time he had heard Wang Fan’s words. Tourists from the north would occasionally say the same thing after eating there. However, he did not dare to change it hastily, as he was afraid that the local old customers would not be used to it.

"You're right, brother. I've actually been thinking about making two kinds of fillings recently. One that retains the original flavor and is sold to regular customers, and the other with a slightly stronger flavor to sell to tourists from the north."

Shen Teng looked at Wang Fan in confusion. Even a layman like him could say such words. This was totally unlike Brother Wang's level.

But when he thought about it, he understood that he was familiar with Brother Jie, but this was the first time that he and Brother Wang met. It was a taboo to talk about intimate things with someone you just met.

Besides, I know Brother Wang's level, but Brother Jie doesn't. If I say too much, I'm afraid Brother Jie will feel resentful.

However, if Brother Jie missed the opportunity to receive guidance from Brother Wang, he would have missed the chance to meet the true God, and he would have regretted it in the future.

After thinking for a while, Shen Teng asked, "Brother Wang, are you interested in trying to make this fried five-spice dish? Anyway, we have everything here." After saying that, he secretly made a bowing gesture.

Wang Fan felt amused. He didn't expect that Shen Teng was so kind-hearted. He was trying to find ways to get him to help Brother Jie without embarrassing Brother Jie.

He looked at Brother Jie and asked, "Brother Jie, I usually like to cook. This is my first time to eat Fujian special snacks, and I'm itching to try them. Would it be convenient for me to make two for myself to try?"

Brother Jie laughed: "No problem, no problem. I just need to deliver some food to some old men. You and Xiao Teng can help me keep an eye on it. I will be back soon."

After saying that, he packed some freshly fried five-spiced snacks into a box and went out with the bag.

The few old men he mentioned are regular customers of the vegetable market. They are older and move less, so he will help deliver the food after they place an order every day.

Watching Brother Jie walk away, Wang Fan smiled and said to Shen Teng: "You said you were taking me to eat some special snacks, but you ended up getting myself involved."

Shen Teng chuckled: "I didn't really think that much, I just wanted to take you to this vegetable market to have a special breakfast. I didn't expect Brother Jie's business to be so bleak now. He is a good man, Brother Wang, please help him if you can."

Wang Fan nodded. "Okay, I want to try it too. Go buy me some fresh purple onions, smaller ones are best, and also some lard."

Shen Teng happily ran out of the stall: "Okay, I'll go right away."

Wang Fan walked into the shop, fanned the filling with his hands, sniffed the food, and an idea for improvement came to his mind.

(End of this chapter)