Chapter 334: Chapter 202: The Tricks and Secrets to Cooking Oil Braised Large Shrimp! Dundun’s Desire for Revenge! [Seeking Monthly Ticket]_4
"Not yet, Uncle. We still need to pour the sauce."
After scooping all the large shrimp out of the wok, Lin Xu placed a strainer over a bowl and poured the broth from the wok through it, filtering out the minced ginger in the process.
He then poured the broth back into the wok and heated it over the fire, stirring it as it heated.
The broth thickened at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"The benefit of using crystal sugar is exactly this: the sauce reduces quickly and becomes shiny and bright, making it look prettier when poured over the shrimp."
Very soon, the sauce in the wok not only thickened, but its color also turned a ruddier hue.
This was the effect of the shrimp oil.
When the broth became thoroughly thick, Lin Xu scooped half a ladle of scallion and pepper oil into the wok, swiftly mixed it, and then carefully poured the mixture over the large shrimp on the plate.
After the sauce was poured, it was ready to be served and tasted.
The relatives looked at each other in surprise.
"So this is what Oil Braised Large Shrimp is supposed to be like? Does that mean the previous method of adding tomato sauce and vinegar is wrong?"
Lin Xu said with a smile, "It’s not bad. When the shrimp aren’t fresh enough, a sweet-and-sour flavor can greatly improve their taste. But with live shrimp, this method is better, as you can taste the fresh sweetness of the shrimp meat and still enjoy the crispy texture."
He didn’t even need to say more. As soon as the relatives heard how magical the shrimp prepared this way were, they hurriedly took the plates away.
One plate for each table so that everyone could taste it.
"Grandma, Maternal Grandmother, please try my cooking."
After removing his apron, Lin Xu sat next to Shen Baobao and served one large shrimp to both Grandma Lin and Grandma Chen.
"My grandson’s cooking smells so good."
Grandma Chen took a bite of the large shrimp and immediately gave a thumbs-up. "Delicious, delicious! My dear grandson’s cooking is far better than both of his uncles combined!"
Chen Meide: ...
Chen Meiliang: ...
Mom, praise your grandson by all means, but why drag us into it?
Grandma Lin, beside her, tried a bite of the large shrimp from her bowl, and her eyes lit up. "When I first started working, I went to Beijing as a representative and had Oil Braised Large Shrimp once. It tastes just like this! I thought this method had been lost, but who would have thought my dear grandson could make it."
She took another taste and then continued, "Yes, this is the flavor! Savory and salty at first bite, with a hint of sweetness in the aftertaste. It’s unlike the banquets around here, where they insist on making Oil Braised Large Shrimp taste like sweet-and-sour large shrimp."
Lin Xu said with a smile, "If you like it, I can make it for you every day."
Grandma Lin said with a smile, "That won’t do. My dear grandson needs to run his business in Beijing. It’s enough if your mother and the others can make it. Whenever Grandma misses you, I’ll have them cook it for me."
This topic made Shen Baobao a bit wistful, so she quickly said, "No need, Grandma. Just tell us when you want to eat it, and we’ll come back to make it for you. It’s very fast by high-speed rail, as long as we don’t bring Dundun along."
Just as she finished speaking, Dundun, who was walking by, raised his paw and stepped on her shoe.
A dirty cat paw print was left on her white shoes.
Shen Baobao’s heart ached. "Oh no, my little white shoes! Stinky Dundun, did you do that on purpose?"
Dundun was sitting leisurely by the door, licking his paw.
What are you saying? This kitty doesn’t quite understand, meow~
Looking aggrieved, Shen Baobao couldn’t bring herself to punish Dundun and instead took her anger out on the Oil Braised Large Shrimp.
She picked up a large shrimp and, imitating Lin Xu, first sucked on the shrimp head, extracting the shrimp brains and the broth soaked within in one go.
"Wow, it’s so succulent! This is indeed the right way to enjoy live shrimp!"
After sucking out the shrimp brains, she bit off the upper half of the shrimp shell and ate the remaining meat inside. Then, holding the main body of the shrimp with her chopsticks, she gently tugged, and the entire shell slipped off.
Eating the whole piece of shrimp meat, the sensation of its freshness, sweetness, crunchiness, and chewy texture was simply intoxicating.
"Delicious, delicious! Will Lin Ji have this dish on the menu in the future, Xu Baobao?"
"Yes, the traditional preparation of Oil Braised Large Shrimp is becoming rarer. I need to do my best to promote it, to prevent more people from mistaking sweet-and-sour large shrimp for Oil Braised Large Shrimp."
Lin Xu felt that as a person in the catering industry, he had a duty and responsibility to pass on traditional cooking techniques.
Just as he thought this, the system notification sounded in his mind:
"Host has decided to promote traditional cooking techniques, completing the Hidden Task [Promotion of Tradition]. Reward: Excellent Level Lifestyle Skill—Voiceover. Congratulations to the Host."
Voiceover?
I’m just a chef.
What am I supposed to do with this?
Lin Xu complained internally, feeling that the system’s rewards were getting more and more unrestrained.
Could it be because Dundun had stolen too many rewards?
So the system was trying to compensate in other ways?
He sighed softly, then picked up a large shrimp and began to eat...