The delicacies of the heavens begin with obtaining gem meat.

The members of Polaris Dormitory were divided into different groups. After saying goodbye to each other, they headed to their respective "battlefields".

However, Jiang Yan was in the same group as Sakaki Ryoko.

So the two of them met up with the other trainees in their group and took a bus arranged by the academy to their test venue.

A dozen minutes later, the bus slowly drove into the ornate iron gate of a courtyard.

Unlike the modern kitchens in the academy, this courtyard is paved with bluestone paths, with neatly trimmed rosemary and thyme planted on both sides, and light purple vines twining around the wooden pillars, exuding a touch of antiquity amidst its exquisiteness.

Upon entering the kitchen in the courtyard, the group met Fuyumi Mizuhara, the guest lecturer for this project.

"I am Fuyumi Mizuhara, a graduate of the 79th class."

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Mizuhara Fuyumi didn't exchange any pleasantries. She first briefly introduced herself and then began to explain the rules of the project.

"This project uses a two-person team format, and the team list is posted on that wooden board over there."

Fuyumi Mizuhara pointed to the list posted to the side, and then continued...

"The task is to make a pasta dish that satisfies me. All kinds of pasta have been prepared, and the time limit is two hours."

"Now, let's begin cooking."

After saying this, Fuyumi Mizuhara squatted down on the chair, placed her fists on her knees, stared blankly into space.

Jiang Yan walked up to the list and quickly confirmed that he and Ryoko Sakaki were in the same group.

This made Jiang Yan feel that Mizuhara Fuyumi was probably too lazy to put in the effort and simply copied the group assignments from the Totsuki class.

But this is actually a good thing for him.

Ryoko Sakaki had obviously noticed the group assignments as well, and breathed a slight sigh of relief. Jiang Yan's cooking skills were quite good, making it much safer to work with him than with the other students.

..............................

Ryoko Sakaki gently brushed her fingertips through her hair and looked at Jiang Yan.

"It seems we'll have to continue fighting side-by-side this time."

A smile appeared on Jiang Yan's face.

"With Ryoko as a partner, this will definitely go smoothly."

Ryoko Sakaki has solid culinary skills, and the two of them have worked together a lot in class before, so passing this project shouldn't be a problem.

"Don't be too careless."

Ryoko Sakaki looked at Jiang Yan and reminded him.

"Instructor Mizuhara is an expert in Italian cuisine, so he must be very picky about pasta."

Jiang Yan nodded; naturally, he wouldn't let his guard down because of this.

The two then walked together toward the food area, and as soon as they got close, they sensed that something was wrong.

The area, which should have been bustling and lively, was now filled with a low-pressure atmosphere. Many trainees stood in front of the food shelves with furrowed brows and distressed expressions, and some even couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

Jiang Yan followed everyone's gaze and immediately understood the reason.

The shelves were indeed filled with all kinds of pasta, from long, thin spaghetti to spiral fusilli and tubular penne.

The side dishes consisted only of vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini, with not a trace of meat.

"They actually want us to make vegan pasta?"

"Without meat and ham, how can you make a dish that will satisfy Professor Mizuhara using only vegetables?"

One student couldn't help but complain.

While the soul of pasta lies in the chewiness of the noodles and the flavor of the sauce, the aroma and rich texture of the meat are often the key to elevating the dish.

Nowadays, only vegetables can be used, making it very difficult for most students to create an amazing flavor.

...........................

Jiang Yan looked at the limited variety of vegetables on the shelf and found it rather interesting.

If all the ingredients were prepared, then the difficulty of this project would be too low.

Moreover, the greater the difficulty, the more it can stimulate the creativity of cooking.

His eyes scanned the food shelves carefully, and he pondered how to break out of the current situation.

When Jiang Yan saw the bowl of soybeans soaking in water in the corner, his eyes lit up, and an idea instantly formed in his mind.

"Sakaki Ryoko,"

Jiang Yan turned to look at Ryoko Sakaki beside him and made the arrangements.

"Go and prepare to cook the pasta. Choose solid pasta and cook it until it's about 80% done, but still retains enough chewiness."

"clear."

Without the slightest hesitation, Ryoko Sakaki agreed immediately.

Trusting Jiang Yan's judgment, she immediately went to the pasta area to select suitable noodles and quickly picked up a bag of evenly thick solid pasta.

Turning around, she walked to the pot and skillfully added water and salt...

Jiang Yan strode to the ingredient shelf, first selecting a few smooth, plump tomatoes, then a purple onion, followed by shiitake mushrooms and bell peppers...

Finally, Jiang Yan scooped out some soybeans that had been soaked until they were plump and round.

Bring the ingredients to the kitchen counter, first score the top of the tomatoes with an X, blanch them in boiling water to remove the skin, and then dice them into small pieces;

Chop the onion into even pieces, slice the shiitake mushrooms thinly, and julienne the bell peppers... set aside for later use.

Remove the soaked soybeans and cook them in boiling water until they become soft and tender. Drain the water and crush them on a cutting board with a knife until they have a texture similar to minced meat.

Pour the crushed soybeans into a bowl and add two spoonfuls of soy sauce for color and flavor.

Next, pour olive oil into the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the browned soybeans and deep-fry quickly for about ten seconds, until the surface becomes slightly crispy. Then remove and drain.

This method locks in the moist texture inside while adding a crispy outer layer, perfectly mimicking the texture of minced meat.

..............................

Pour a small amount of olive oil into a frying pan and heat it to about 60% of its maximum temperature. Add the chopped onion and sauté until fragrant. Then add the sliced ​​shiitake mushrooms and bell pepper strips and stir-fry briefly.

Finally, add the diced tomatoes and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, to allow the tomato juices to fully release and gradually thicken into a sauce. Add salt, black pepper, and other seasonings as needed during the process.

As it simmers, a sweet and sour aroma gradually fills the air.

Now you can serve the sauce.

Meanwhile, Ryoko Sakaki had already cooked the pasta to 80% done, then rinsed it with cold water, drained it, and poured it into a hot pan. She added a small amount of olive oil and stir-fried it evenly to ensure that each noodle was smooth, chewy, and did not stick together.

Ryoko Sakaki poured the sauce and 'minced meat' prepared by Jiang Yan into the pot and stir-fried it with the noodles, so that each strand of pasta was evenly coated with the sweet and sour sauce.

Serve it on a plate, and the minced meat pasta is ready.

Jiang Yan carried the white porcelain plate and walked up to Mizuhara Fuyumi.

"Minced meat spaghetti, please enjoy."

Fuyumi Mizuhara, who had been in a daze, slowly raised her eyes, and a clear look of surprise appeared on her previously calm face.

My gaze fell on the porcelain plate, where a thick tomato sauce covered the chewy solid pasta, dotted with many distinct, brownish-red pieces of "minced meat," which looked no different from real minced pork.