HCB Chapter 169 Lotus Seeds and Snow Pears
Chapter 169 Lotus Seeds and Snow Pears
When Shen Linfeng heard Cheng Yuntao's response, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He thought Cheng Yuntao would refuse, but he didn't expect that she would accept it again.
"Okay, then I'll wait and see!"
This time Shen Linfeng did not come with her. Cheng Yuntao came to the kitchen alone and paced back and forth, racking her brains for a way to deal with the situation.
There are many common bitter dishes, each with its own unique flavor.
Bitter melon stuffed with meat is a classic dish. Cut the bitter melon into sections, remove the pulp, and fill it with a carefully prepared meat filling before steaming it until cooked. The bitterness of the bitter melon blends perfectly with the tender, juicy meat filling. Take a bite and you'll first experience the refreshing bitterness of the bitter melon, followed by the aroma of the meat. The richness of the meat balances the bitterness of the bitter melon, creating a rich, layered taste.
There's also chicory with tofu. Fresh, tender, green, and crisp chicory pairs beautifully with tender tofu and is topped with a sauce of salt, light soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, and minced garlic. After mixing well, the bitterness of the chicory complements the bean aroma of the tofu. The tofu absorbs the freshness of the chicory, while the chicory absorbs the richness of the tofu. This refreshing dish is a great appetizer for summer dinners, relieving greasiness and making it a delicious summer dish.
Stir-fried lettuce is also quite representative. It is stir-fried quickly over high heat. The lettuce is crispy, tender and slightly bitter. The control of heat is crucial. It is cooked through just enough to retain its original flavor. When chewing, a faint bitterness lingers on the tip of the tongue, and then the aroma of the vegetable becomes richer. It is simple but full of the flavor of life.
But these are all well known to the public, and Shen Linfeng is no exception. Not to mention that he is knowledgeable and has eaten many rare dishes. What dish should be made to surprise him?
Suddenly, Cheng Yuntao had an idea and then acted quickly.
First, reach out and pick up a handful of plump lotus seeds from the bamboo basket, gently rub them with your fingertips, pick out those with dark color and unfull grains, put the selected lotus seeds into a white porcelain bowl, then pick up the copper kettle and slowly pour in clear water. The crystal clear water washes over the lotus seeds, wash them carefully, wash away the impurities on the surface of the lotus seeds, drain the water and set them aside.
Then he picked up a plump pear and peeled it off neatly, letting the thin skin fall off in circles. The peeled pear was then cut in half and cut into evenly sized pieces.
When everything is ready, move to the stove, place the clay pot steadily on the stove, pour in an appropriate amount of water, turn on the fire, and wait until the water bubbles slightly. Then put the washed lotus seeds into the pot, cover the pot, and let the lotus seeds slowly stew in the water.
After a while, a slight gurgling sound came from the pot. Cheng Yuntao opened the lid and put in the chopped pear pieces. Then she picked up a piece of rock sugar, weighed it, broke off a small piece and put it in the pot. Then she stirred it gently with a long-handled spoon, allowing the rock sugar to slowly melt in the water.
After adjusting the heat, Cheng Yuntao stood aside, occasionally opening the lid of the pot to check and stirring it a few times with a spoon to ensure that the ingredients were heated evenly.
As time passed, the kitchen was gradually filled with the sweet aroma of snow pears and lotus seeds.
When the soup becomes thick, the pear becomes soft and sticky, and the lotus seeds are cooked until they are soft and sticky, Cheng Yuntao turns down the heat, lets the soup simmer in the pot for a while, and then turns off the heat.
She picked up the soup bowl and slowly poured the lotus seed and pear soup into it. The steaming soup began to emit wisps of mist. Finally, she picked up a handful of wolfberries and gently sprinkled them on the soup as a garnish.
When Cheng Yuntao ordered the servant to present the prepared lotus seed and snow pear soup to Shen Linfeng, he was very puzzled, his eyebrows raised high, and his eyes were full of doubt, "I asked for a dish with a bitter taste. This lotus seed and snow pear soup is clearly a sweet soup. It doesn't meet my requirements."
"Miss Cheng, if you can't think of a dish that matches the dish, that's fine. Just admit it openly. Why bother making such an irrelevant dish just to make up the numbers?"
Ji Yanchuan intuitively felt that Cheng Yuntao would not act so rashly, and she must have her own reasons. However, he was not in a position to argue for her. He just looked at her quietly with a bit of concern in his eyes.
Cheng Yuntao met Ji Yanchuan's gaze and shook her head slightly, indicating that he didn't need to worry.
She walked forward, picked up a spoon, and scooped up a spoonful of soup. Lotus seeds and snow pears were faintly visible in the broth. She explained in a clear voice, "Mr. Shen only knows that lotus seeds are sweet, but he doesn't know that the most essential part of lotus seeds is the lotus heart hidden deep within. The lotus heart tastes extremely bitter and affects the overall taste. Many people choose to remove the lotus heart when cooking."
"For today's lotus seed and snow pear soup, I've deliberately preserved the lotus seed core. This bitterness is enveloped by the fresh sweetness of the snow pear and the sweetness of the rock sugar. At first, it's sweet and mellow, but once you swallow it, a subtle bitterness slowly dissipates on your tongue, lingering."
After hearing Cheng Yuntao's explanation, Shen Linfeng was still dissatisfied. A critical look appeared on his face, and his tone was filled with disdain: "Even if this does fit the theme I gave, it's just an ordinary soup. There's nothing amazing about it. It's not really a delicacy."
Facing his questioning, Cheng Yuntao seemed to be well prepared. She remained calm and continued without arrogance or impatience, "Don't worry, Mr. Shen. I have a story related to this soup. I wonder if you would like to hear it?"
Shen Linfeng seemed to have already predicted that Cheng Yuntao would never satisfy him, so he raised his eyebrows indifferently and motioned to her, "Okay, then I'd like to hear what else you have to say." He leaned back slightly on the chair, his eyes full of disapproval.
"Jin Shengtan was a man of wit and humor, and uninhibited. He was sentenced to death by the imperial court for the "Crying in the Temple Case" due to his resistance to grain. On the day of his execution, Jin Shengtan's son came to see him off. Seeing his grieving son, he offered to give him a couplet to answer in order to comfort him."
"The first line is 'Lotus seeds feel bitter in the heart,'" and "lotus" here sound like "pity," meaning he felt pity for his son when he saw him weeping bitterly. But his son was crying so hard his throat was dry and his heart was broken, so he had no intention of writing a couplet. So Jin Shengtan came up with the second line himself, 'Pears feel sour in the belly,' and "pear" sounds like "leave," meaning he was about to leave his son and felt an unbearable bitterness in his heart."
"'Lotus seeds are bitter in the heart, pears are sour in the belly', which also means 'Love for your child is bitter in the heart, and separation from your child is sour in the belly.'"
Shen Linfeng seemed to be lost in thought, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his expression becoming more serious.
Seeing this, Cheng Yuntao struck while the iron was hot: "I took this as inspiration and made this lotus seed and snow pear soup. The bitterness of the lotus seeds and the sourness of the snow pear in this soup are not just a simple taste presentation, but a microcosm of the emotions of life and death, and the separation of life and death."
"Food is often more than just food; it carries emotion. When I caught a cold playing around as a child, my mother would make ginger and brown sugar soup, the wafting steam filled with care. When I grew up and left home to find work, the wheat cakes in my bag were the taste of home, and every bite brought a surge of homesickness. Every New Year, the family gathered around to make glutinous rice balls, the plump dumplings wrapped in wishes for reunion..."
Shen Linfeng said nothing, but picked up the lotus seed and pear soup and savored it carefully.
He took a sip, and the warm soup slid across his tongue. At first, the sweetness of the snow pear and the sweetness of the rock sugar blended together, and then the bitter taste of the lotus seeds hidden in it slowly seeped out, seemingly imperceptible but clearly perceptible.