Chapter 9 This panda can cook
Alright, let's check back in half an hour; we'll slice and stir-fry once it's cooked. I will go prepare some rice, you can continue watching the movie! Wait a minute, why does this plot seem a bit familiar? This character's behavior is somewhat reminiscent of the rat in "Ratatouille"! If it weren't for the fact that this fellow's paws are really not suited for wielding a knife or flipping a pan, I reckon he could probably cook for himself.
What the heck, don't you still know how to cook? Shen Yibin was momentarily stunned, seeing that he had not moved for a long time, while the water boiling the pork belly beside him had already started to bubble. Ha'er couldn't help but grunt twice, with its two front paws propped up on the stove, desperately reaching for the small pile of ginger slices on the counter.
Hmm
Well ~ well ~ he originally did not expect that Ha'er would respond, but this fellow actually shook his head. Not only that, he even extended a paw to push some slices of ginger from the cutting board into his hand
Looking back, I saw that Ha'er had already put on the scarf he had just bought, resting his chopsticks on the dining table, gazing eagerly over here.
How much green onion should I add? Since it's for you, I'll prepare it according to your instructions. Shen Yibin is too lazy to look at the cooking book now, so he directly asked Ha'er. With his help, they quickly determined the amounts of green onion and cooking wine.
Let’s try it first! Shen Yibin went to wash the cleaned and peeled scallions, cutting them into lengths similar to those in the culinary book. While he was busy with this, Ha'er dragged over a stool, climbed up with a puffing sound, and squatted there, watching his every move without blinking.
"Oh, that's a bit strange. Based on my years of experience watching internet celebrities on Weibo, I actually can't see any signs of Photoshop in this photo. Could it be a real photo?" A comment from a seasoned user startled Shen Yibin. "Damn, could you not be so sharp-eyed? How can you handle looking at internet celebrities' bodies every day? Hurry up and buy a bottle of nutritional supplement to replenish yourself, and stop obsessing over these few photos, okay?"
Goodness, this speed is a bit frightening. Just a quick search reveals that this person's photos are everywhere on Weibo, forums, and Baidu Tieba, and there are even people using this image as their profile picture.
Startled by the scare from Ha'er, Shen Yibin finally came to his senses. He attempted to pick up four or five slices of ginger and cautiously asked, "Is this amount sufficient?"
On the way to and from shopping, Shen Yibin researched a considerable amount of information about pandas, and he had a basic understanding of these matters. In the end, he could only conclude that the pandas of the twenty-second century are different from those of the present.
Hmm ~ '' Ha'er has started again, only to see it slide down from the stool, puffing and panting as it scoots over to the side of the refrigerator, tiptoeing to reach the door of the upper refrigerator compartment. When it sees Shen Yibin looking over, it points with its paw at the meat on the countertop, then points towards the refrigerator compartment.
And this, why are you so familiar with the entertainment industry? You even know that in recent years, no company has started filming a movie involving pandas? Are you afraid that I won't expose it quickly enough?
Slice the meat, ginger, scallions, and garlic. Heat a wok and add a small amount of oil to sauté the chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and ginger and scallions until fragrant. Add the sliced meat and stir-fry until the meat turns translucent and the edges slightly curl. Push the meat to one side of the wok and add Pixian doubanjiang (of course, before stir-frying, Ha'er reminded him to chop it finely). Stir-fry until the oil turns red; according to Ha'er's guidance, add an appropriate amount of soy sauce for color, and stir-fry evenly with the meat. Finally, add the garlic sprouts, and sprinkle a little cooking wine and sugar to adjust the flavor. Add Pixian doubanjiang (of course, before stir-frying, Ha'er reminded him to chop it finely). Stir-fry until the oil turns red; according to Ha'er's guidance, add an appropriate amount of soy sauce for color, and stir-fry evenly with the meat. Finally, add the garlic sprouts, and sprinkle a little cooking wine and sugar to adjust the flavor
However, speaking of which, pandas have a very keen sense of smell, and they generally communicate with each other through sounds and scents. Therefore, it seems reasonable that they can determine what combinations can make good meals. However, it is said that pandas have a somewhat unique sense of taste and cannot perceive the freshness of meat. So why do they particularly enjoy eating twice-cooked pork
Shen Yibin certainly did not possess such skills, as the slices of meat he cut were twice as thick as those from the takeout place. He awkwardly laughed and said, "Haha, my skills are still a bit lacking, please don't mind it. I will practice hard to improve as soon as possible"
"Hey, how much is this amount supposed to be? Is this enough?" Shen Yibin, feeling bored, asked as he picked up five or six slices of ginger.
Indeed, after a slight drop in temperature, the meat has become somewhat firmer, making it much easier to cut than before. Shen Yibin barely managed to reach the level of the lunch takeout; damn it, you even know this trick? I don't even help old ladies when crossing the street, yet I admire you.
Under the guidance of Ha'er, Shen Yibin finally completed all the work. He turned off the stove and took a deep breath, saying, "I must say, it does smell quite good! I just don't know if it tastes good or not!"
Oh? Are you saying too much? Shen Yibin understood its meaning, took out a few more slices of ginger and tossed them in, until there were only seven or eight slices left, when Ha'er finally nodded.
Hurry up and get the pot ready, serve two bowls of rice. Shen Yibin sat down opposite Ha'er and said, "Ha'er, give it a try and see how it tastes. Does it suit your palate?"
As he was feeling overwhelmed by the bad news, Ha'er once again clung to his thigh and dragged him towards the kitchen. At this point, Shen Yibin understood without needing to ask that the meat had already been stewed for quite some time
Gently poke the meat with chopsticks, ensuring it is completely pierced without any blood seeping out. At what point can the fire be turned off and the pot removed to slice the meat? However, the subsequent process will test one's knife skills, as the meat must be cut relatively thin. Moreover, each slice must include three parts: the skin, the fat, and the lean meat. Only then can the slices be stir-fried into the commonly known shape of "lamp nest".
"Don't move, don't move! The knife is still nearby!" Shen Yibin quickly carried him back to the stool and sat him down properly. If this guy got cut by the kitchen knife, he wouldn't even dare to take him to see a doctor!
How much should I add in moderation for the scallions and ginger slices? Shen Yibin felt frustrated; this cookbook is unreliable. The quantities for the pork belly with skin and Sichuan peppercorns are clearly stated, but when it comes to the scallions and ginger slices, it becomes vague.
After the rice was cooked in the rice cooker and the meat still required some time to stew, Shen Yibin returned to the bedroom, lying next to Ha'er while browsing the internet on his phone, wanting to see how far his few photos had spread nowadays
Hmm ~ Hmm ~ '' Ha'er shook his head again, spread open his left paw, and with the fingers of his right paw, made a scooping motion in the palm.
Does it mean I should freeze for a moment first
Alright, I will listen to you! Shen Yibin placed the meat into the refrigerator, then closed the fridge door. He squatted in front of the refrigerator, staring eye to eye with Ha'er. After about five minutes, Ha'er climbed up his knee to his shoulder, trying to open the fridge door; Shen Yibin quickly pulled him down, knowing that the time had come.