Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Matsutake Mushroom
Translator: 549690339
[Extra update for Light Spring Flow Sovereign!
Inside Willow River Park.
“Gurgle-”
Dan Bao raised a piece of beef short ribs already cut into small pieces with kitchen scissors and finished grilling with his thought waves. The surface of the ribs glistened with enticing oil, he dipped it in the sauce and wrapped it in lettuce.
Immediately afterward, watching the grilled meat flying towards it, Dan Bao’s little head instantly popped out of its body.
“Roar!”
It chewed happily, a satisfied smile spreading on its face.
The taste was as great as always!
What was even more important was that Dan Bao, now with the power of thought waves, could manage everything without Qin Lang’s help!
On the other side, Qin Lang, seeing Dan Bao being self-sufficient, handed Spicy who was salivating at the sight — a roast meat likewise wrapped in lettuce, and said with a smile, “Here you go- eat slowly!”
Spicy opened her mouth wide, revealing two cute little fangs, and took a big bite of the lettuce-wrapped roast meat.
As she chewed, her heterochromatic eyes glowed as red and green intertwined in the air bubble above her head to reflect the shock and joy she felt from tasting this unfamiliar delicious food.
Seeing both food spirits enjoying their meal, Qin Lang turned his attention to the other ingredients nearby, with a smile on his face.
After the picnic began, he started with the familiar beef short ribs. The remaining ingredients had yet to be touched!
“Let’s start with three slices of matsutake!” Qin Lang swallowed his saliva, using tongs to clamp three matsutake slices that were slightly thicker than coins. “Dan Bao, lower the heat.”
“Gurgle!”
Understood!
Having just finished the grilled meat, Dan Bao’s expression instantly turned serious as Qin Lang brought out the matsutake slices.
Although it didn’t know what this ingredient was, its familiarity with Qin Lang told it that the ingredient that made Qin Lang act like this was anything but ordinary.
“Whoosh-”
Dan Bao spewed out a flame with Full Firepower, which landed at the bottom of the baking tray.
It had improved in its control over its combat skill, so the chances of mistakes due to distractions, like what happened when it was grilling meat last time, were virtually non-existent now.
Through heartfelt communication, the baking tray quickly heated up to the temperature Qin Lang wanted.
Spicy, who had swallowed her grilled meat, looked curiously at what was happening.
Would that seemingly ordinary ingredient taste good?
Just as she had this question, a “sizzle” sound came.
That was the sound of the freshly sliced matsutake falling onto the baking tray and coming into contact with the leftover oil from grilling meat, creating an explosion of noise.
Accompanying the sound was a unique fresh scent, like the earth and vegetation mixing together after a rain in the forest, as pure as a clear spring and as cool as a mountain stream.
Spicy stared wide-eyed.
This scent!!!
In an instant, her tears uncontrollably flowed out from the corners of her mouth.
Qin Lang chuckled, his gaze falling on the baking tray.
As the heat was conducted, the moisture inside the fresh matsutake evaporated, causing the thin matsutake slices to shrink, reduce in volume, and start to curl upward slightly.
During this process, the shrinking volume seemed to have turned into aroma, enveloping the surroundings with the exclusive scent of matsutake.
Qin Lang took a deep breath, a delighted expression appearing on his face.
It’s this flavor.
It was a scent that starkly contrasted the usual mushroom aroma.
Once tasted, it can be remembered for a lifetime.
When the matsutake was nearly ready, Qin Lang flipped the three slices. The side that had been in contact with the baking tray revealed itself.
The matsutake slices had turned a light yellow, with some areas stained brown. The smooth surface was covered in fat, and under the sunlight, it had a glossy texture.
At the same time, more aroma was released from the matsutake, causing Dan Bao and Spicy at the side to salivate uncontrollably.
Just from the smell, they could already imagine how delicious it would be the moment these matsutake slices entered their mouths.
“High-end ingredients often require the simplest cooking methods.”
Qin Lang imitates the tone of a broadcaster, opening his mouth slowly.
Every time he cooks Matsutake mushrooms, he likes to do just this.
It is not for anything else, just to set the scene.
Once the other side is heated and shrunk in the same way, causing the lifted Matsutake to become flat again, he simply sprinkles a little salt. Then, the Matsutake fried in cow’s oil is ready to be eaten.
“Wanna try?”
Qin Lang picked up two pieces, one each for Dan Bao and Spicy, before popping the last piece from the baking tray into his mouth.
The Matsutake tasted springy and tough when it entered the mouth, and chewing it felt as thick and tender as abalone. A little salt seasoning, coupled with the rich dairy and meat aromas of the beef’s oil left over on the baking tray from the beef short ribs, was an ultimate delight.
Unlike other ingredients, the taste of Matsutake can vary greatly depending on the cooking method used.
Due to limited resources, Qin Lang couldn’t find melted butter to make the classic Melted Butter Fried Matsutake. However, Matsutake fried in cow’s oil had its own unique taste.
Besides…
Qin Lang took out another piece of Matsutake and handed it to Dan Bao who had already enjoyed a piece of Matsutake and showed a satisfied expression. “Here you go, it’s full of freshness!”
“Gulu?”
Dan Bao tilted his head, but still skillfully blew on the Matsutake.
Qin Lang took back the Matsutake, cut it into three pieces with scissors, picked up a piece, dipped it in soy sauce, and popped it straight into his mouth.
The Matsutake sashimi had a dense and substantial taste.
The raw matsutake had a hint of natural pungency, but upon careful tasting, this pungent flavor dissipated, leaving behind the natural sweetness and flavor of the matsutake.
“Come and try this way of eating it.”
Looking at the two drooling little ones, Qin Lang dipped the remaining two pieces in soy sauce, and passed them over.
“Chaka!”
After eating the Matsutake sashimi, Spicy’s eyes lit up again.
Comparing the two methods, it found the latter to be more delicious!
“Gulu!”
Dan Bao at his side quickly finished eating, his face showing a bit of a struggle.
Although Matsutake sashimi was also very delicious, it preferred Matsutake that was cooked.
“It’s normal to have different preferences.” Qin Lang magically pulled out an egg, “But you’ll definitely like the way I’ll cook next.”
“Gulu!”
Egg!
The moment Dan Bao saw the egg, its eyes lit up.
Can Matsutake also be paired with an egg?
“Of course it can.” Qin Lang found a small bowl, broke the egg into it, and mixed the yolk and egg white. He then spread it on the surface of the Matsutake. “Fire up!”
Dan Bao sprayed fire to heat the baking tray, but had its eyes fixed intently on the Matsutake laid on the baking tray.
The spread egg mixture quickly solidified under the heat, thinly encasing the Matsutake. An intense eggy aroma then hit their noses.
It was Dan Bao’s favorite. Just by smelling the familiar aroma of the egg, it felt an urge to gobble it up immediately.
However, soon, Dan Bao found that the aroma was undergoing a more fascinating change.
That was the unique aroma emitted by the Matsutake wrapped in the egg mixture under the heat transfer. At this moment, it mingled with the eggy aroma, bursting out an incomparable surprise.
Dan Bao swallowed its saliva.
Right now, it had only one thought.
That was to take a bite!
Quick entrance: [Monthly Pass][Recommended Ticket]
Extra content at the end of this chapter:
[Melted Butter Fried Matsutake]