The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 232 The Allure of Boiled Fish Slices

"Dad, why are you home so early today..."

As Zhou Yun opened the door to greet him, he spoke casually, but upon seeing the figure following Zhou Qing, he couldn't help but widen his eyes, "Qin Lang?"

"Hello, Brother Zhou Yun." Qin Lang greeted him with a smile.

Although Zhou Yun was already in his early forties, he didn't look like a middle-aged man at all, and Qin Lang just couldn't bring himself to call him "uncle."

"Oh my, what a rare guest!"

Zhou Yun laughed heartily, walked past his elderly father and quickly went to Qin Lang's side, putting an arm around his shoulder, "I watched the whole cooking competition, you really make Dongxia Mayor proud!"

"You've come all this way today, so..." Zhou Yun said, winking at Qin Lang with a knowing look.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhou Yun. I scared away Mr. Zhou Qing's fish today, so I have to compensate him with a good one," Qin Lang replied with a smile.

"Then I'm relieved." Zhou Yun laughed heartily, then couldn't help but secretly swallow.

"Hmph!" Zhou Qing said sullenly, his face dark. "Don't you have any sense? Why aren't you helping me hold the fish basket?"

"Coming, coming." Zhou Yun responded, took the fish basket from Zhou Qing's hand, glanced at the lively grass carp inside, and suddenly shuddered, immediately understanding the reason for Zhou Qing's sour face.

"Old man, I didn't change your bait today!"

"I know," Zhou Qing said sullenly.

He was even more frustrated because the kid didn't change.

I can't even find an excuse anymore.

No, I have to find a chance to beat this kid up.

It's so annoying to look at!

"Don't just stand at the door, let's go inside."

Zhou Qing turned to look at Qin Lang, his displeasure vanishing instantly in response to a warm smile. The speed at which he changed his expression left Zhou Yun speechless.

"I'm sorry to bother you." Qin Lang nodded and walked into Zhou Qing's house. "It's just around dinnertime, so I'll use today's fish to make a dish first."

"Alright." Zhou Qing laughed. "Let me see if your cooking skills have improved during your month-long trip away."

"I'm sure you won't be disappointed." Qin Lang smiled, then suddenly asked, "Mr. Zhou Qing, is there anything you'd like to eat today?"

"Well," Zhou Qing said with a smile, recalling the "Shike" that Qin Lang had mentioned to him before, "I've been feeling a bit bland lately..."

"I understand." Qin Lang made a "no problem" gesture and carried the large grass carp into the kitchen.

When cooking with grass carp, the dish should be flavorful.

As the grass carp struggled desperately on the verge of death, Qin Lang ruthlessly slapped it unconscious on the cutting board, and an idea already formed in his mind.

Let's make a dish that's the same as the one he made in the competition.

After taking stock of all the ingredients and seasonings, Qin Lang grabbed some rice from the Traveler's Book and put it into the rice cooker before starting to cook.

Remove the scales and entrails from the grass carp, cut off the head and tail, and only take the body. Cut the fish meat on both sides along the main bone, remove the large bones between the ribs, and then slice it diagonally.

Slice the fish fillets into two-tenths of an inch thick slices, place them in a bowl, add appropriate amounts of cooking wine, scallions, ginger, salt, chicken bouillon, and pea starch, mix well, and marinate.

Wash and chop the garlic sprouts, lettuce tips, tender celery, and Chinese cabbage, stir-fry them until cooked, and then place them at the bottom of the plate as a base dish.

Heat oil in a wok until it reaches about 40-50% of its maximum temperature. Add the chopped chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns and stir-fry until fragrant and the surface turns a dark reddish-brown color. Remove from the wok.

After draining the oil thoroughly, chop the stir-fried chili peppers into small pieces and set aside.

Heat oil in a wok until it reaches about 40% of its smoking point. Add fermented bean paste, minced ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry until the oil turns red and a rich aroma of ginger and garlic fills the air. Add water, soy sauce, and pepper, then add the arranged fish fillets one by one. Cook over medium heat for two minutes. Once cooked, pour the fish fillets and broth over the vegetables that have been prepared on a serving plate, and then top with freshly stir-fried chili flakes.

Heat oil in a separate pan until it reaches about 70-80% of its maximum temperature, then pour it over the chopped chili peppers. The high oil temperature will instantly release a rich and spicy aroma.

Finally, garnish with a little cilantro.

Sichuan-style boiled fish fillets, done!

Qin Lang scooped out the cooked premium rice from the rice cooker, carrying the dish in one hand and the rice in the other, and strode out of the kitchen.

Outside the kitchen, Zhou Qing and his son, filled with anticipation, turned their heads at the same time. The aroma of spicy food wafted towards them, and their eyes lit up instantly.

Zhou Yun took a quick step to Qin Lang's side, and swallowed hard as he looked at the boiled fish slices in Qin Lang's hand.

"I remember you made a boiled beef dish at the competition?"

"Yes." Qin Lang placed the food on the table and smiled. "This dish is indeed related to boiled beef; it's called boiled fish fillets."

"Okay, okay!" Zhou Yun nodded emphatically and hurriedly picked up his chopsticks.

The last time Qin Lang made squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, because it was for the food recommender assessment, his father openly ate it all up, and he got a piece of it.

This time, he's going to strike hard!

"What a scoundrel!" Zhou Qing snorted when he saw his son's greedy look. His gaze lingered on the boiled fish slices for a moment before turning to the rice that Qin Lang had served.

At a glance, he could tell that the rice was unusual.

"Is this the premium rice you used in the finals?" Zhou Qing swallowed hard. "I never expected to have this good fortune."

"It's nothing," Qin Lang smiled. "Mr. Zhou Qing, please try it and see if it suits your taste."

"If this premium rice doesn't suit my taste, then my stomach is being a bit too ungrateful." Zhou Qing chuckled, picked up a mouthful of rice with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and after chewing it slightly, his eyes lit up.

The slightly chewy rice remains distinct even after cooking, bursting with a rich rice aroma upon first bite, and gradually releasing a subtle sweetness as you chew, giving you a strong sense of satisfaction.

He could eat two large bowls of rice like that, even without any side dishes.

Moreover, judging from Qin Lang's behavior, it's not hard to guess that he may have obtained another rare spirit that can reliably produce rice.

What an excellent and lucky child.

"Ouch...it's so spicy!"

Zhou Yun's hiss interrupted Zhou Qing's thoughts. Zhou Qing glared at his son, then reached for the boiled fish slices with his chopsticks.

The fish slices coated in chili oil are pleasing to the eye, and the rich, spicy flavor makes one's mouth water.

It seems that Qin Lang made this dish because he had mentioned that he hadn't been eating well lately.

With this in mind, Zhou Qing picked up a piece of food with anticipation and put it in her mouth.

The sliced ​​grass carp was surprisingly tender, and the fresh fish flavor blended perfectly with the spicy and numbing taste on the surface as you chewed it.

With just one bite, Zhou Qing felt his appetite instantly awakened.

"Mmm...this food is delicious too!"

Zhou Yun, who was standing to the side, started making a lot of noise again.

Unable to bear the spiciness, he thought of using rice to relieve the heat. He put a mouthful of rice into his mouth and was once again amazed, giving Qin Lang a thumbs up repeatedly.

Zhou Qing was too lazy to look at his good-for-nothing son.

If you get distracted again, there won't be any fish left!
(End of this chapter)