PDLP Chapter 33 Mala Tang
Chapter 33 Mala Tang
Lu Changlin was surprised that Zhao Yan would bring a book.
There was no library at the school, so putting these books somewhere became a problem.
However, he was quick-witted and, before Zhaoyan arrived, he converted the dormitory originally prepared for her into a library.
"Teacher Xiao Zhao, you should stay at Lu Yuan's house. It will be more convenient for you. Your original dormitory can be converted into a library."
Lu Changlin was initially hesitant, but with Wei Yinghong's good start, he was now able to explain very easily.
Zhao Yan didn't mind; thanks to Wei Yinghong's enthusiasm, she had already accepted the situation.
Although a library had been built, it was still quite rudimentary, but Lu Changlin was already very happy about it.
Back at the restaurant, before he could even settle in, Wei Yinghong assigned him another task:
"Xiao Zhao is leaving tomorrow, so let's make something nice today. Don't just make mutton; it'll make everyone smell like mutton!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Queen commanded, and none dared disobey!
Lu Yuan checked the time, went out and headed straight to his uncle's house. He borrowed Lu Hua's motorcycle and went to town to buy ingredients.
Wei Yinghong then grabbed Zhao Yan's hand and asked her to open the trunk of the jeep. She then directed Lu Changming to move a sack of watermelons into the car.
"Girl, this is our local black-skinned watermelon. It's sweet and keeps well. Tomorrow morning, Auntie will fry some fried dough sticks for you. If you get hungry on the way, you can soak the watermelon in them."
Zhao Yan quickly declined, saying, "Auntie, this is too much trouble for you."
"It's no trouble at all! You didn't find it troublesome to come and teach here, so why would it be troublesome for me!"
Zhao Yan felt a warmth in her heart. She saw the purity in Wei Yinghong's eyes and silently accepted the gift, while secretly vowing to repay these kind-hearted people.
Lu Yuan bought a free-range chicken, a crucian carp, a variety of vegetables and bean products, and many spices in town.
Back at the restaurant, Lu Yuan immediately lit a fire, put a large pot of water on the stove, washed the chicken clean, removed its head and tail, and threw it into the pot.
Then, in a separate pot, add sesame oil and start frying chili oil.
Lu Yuan was preparing to make a type of spicy chicken soup that evolved in later generations, which later became very popular in the northern frontier.
As a branch of Malatang, this Malatang has a unique refreshing aroma, which even many people from Sichuan find amazing.
Moreover, the popularity of this kind of spicy hot pot started with the National Highway Restaurant, which is also the type of store that Lu Yuan and the Wang family will focus on developing after taking back their shops.
After the oil is hot, add plenty of scallions, ginger, garlic, carrots, onions, celery, and cilantro.
This method of enhancing the aroma of oil is used in the preparation of many secret sauces such as hot pot bases, and it can also be used to enhance the aroma when frying chili oil at home.
After squeezing the spices dry, Lu Yuan used a large strainer to scoop them out, drained the oil, and then put them into the pot of chicken soup.
This is also how to deal with the leftover spices after frying chili oil at home; it would be a waste to just throw them away.
Then turn the heat down and add Sichuan peppercorns, Sichuan peppercorn powder, fragrant spices, cinnamon, bay leaves, and cardamom.
After frying the spices until they turn golden brown, remove them all and turn the heat up to increase the oil temperature.
During this time, Lu Yuan mixed together local chili powder, bell pepper powder, millet pepper powder, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, and a special numbing and fragrant powder.
Lu Yuan then chopped some scallions, ginger, and garlic and put them in a bag for later use.
Once the oil is hot, ladle out a spoonful of hot oil and pour it over the scallions, ginger, and garlic to cook them and release their aroma. Then, pour the scallions, ginger, and garlic into the chili powder mixture.
Then, use a ladle to pour hot oil onto the chili powder, one spoonful after another. Instantly, a spicy and tempting aroma wafts out, making it irresistible.
"This is the taste!" Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction as he smelled the freshly made chili oil.
There was no need to wash the oil pan. Lu Yuan cleaned the crucian carp and put it into the oil pan, frying it until golden brown on both sides.
Then, put the crucian carp into a gauze bag, add lemongrass, sedge, and wild herbs, tighten the bag, and put it into the chicken soup. Finally, add an appropriate amount of salt and wait for the chicken soup to cook.
An hour later, the aroma of chicken soup filled the entire courtyard, whetting Zhao Yan's appetite. She kept looking towards the restaurant.
At this moment, Lu Yuan was putting the finishing touches on plating the food. The vegetables, vermicelli, bean products, and sliced meat were all cooked.
He took out a large bowl, scooped out two large spoonfuls of the fried chili oil, then added garlic sprouts, minced garlic, dried shrimp, pickled mustard greens, and special sesame powder. Finally, he ladled a few spoonfuls of chicken broth into the bowl.
The unique aroma of Mala Tang was instantly activated. Facing the steam, Lu Yuan poured the cooked vegetables into the bowl, and finally sprinkled cilantro, peanuts, and roasted sesame seeds on top.
A classic Northern-style hot pot is ready!
"Dinner's ready!"
Lu Yuan pushed open the back door and shouted, and the three people who were already drowning in saliva rushed into the restaurant in an instant.
A pot of spicy hot pot, emitting an enticing aroma, comes into view. The broth is clear and bright, with a thin, glossy layer of red oil floating on top.
As the steam rises, the rich aroma of the chicken soup, mixed with the smoky fragrance of chili oil, is neither overpowering nor dry, but rather warm and enticing, making your mouth water just by smelling it.
"Sit down and eat, what are you all standing there for?" Lu Yuan set out the bowls and chopsticks and urged the three of them to sit down quickly.
After Zhao Yan sat down, she picked up her chopsticks, took a wide rice noodle and put it into her bowl, then picked up one end and slurped it up.
The wide rice noodles are smooth and fragrant, chewy and flavorful. The spicy and savory flavor is exceptionally rich with the addition of chicken broth.
In addition, this chili oil is not fried in lard, but has a light and refreshing aroma.
This spicy flavor is refreshing and clean, simple and straightforward. It leaves a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth, making you want to keep eating.
This was her first time eating mala tang without sesame paste. The broth was thick and clear, unlike the thinner and more viscous broth of Northeastern mala tang, but it had a richer and more intense aroma.
Wei Yinghong was also very amazed. Although this mala tang looked very similar to the local mala tang, it tasted completely different.
Local mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot) is usually made with beef bones to make the broth, and some more particular shops will also add old duck.
However, this kind of soup base is thick but lacks a delicate fragrance, and Lu Yuan added crucian carp for this reason, to elevate the aroma to another level.
After finishing a small bowl, Lu Changming exclaimed, "It's so delicious! How can it taste so good!"
Zhao Yan nodded, her little mouth glistening with red oil.
"Lu Yuan, your cooking skills are absolutely amazing. If this mala tang were sold in Beijing, the lines would stretch all the way to Tiananmen Square."
As everyone chatted, their chopsticks moved quickly, and the full bowl of spicy hot pot dwindled at a visible rate.
In just ten minutes, the whole pot of spicy hot pot was devoured in a flash.
Wei Yinghong even went to the kitchen to get a soup spoon, scooped up a bowl of soup, and slowly drank it.
"It's so delicious! I could eat two bowls of rice with this soup."
Zhao Yan rubbed her lower abdomen. This was the most she had ever eaten in her life, and she was so full that she could hardly breathe.
"Lu Yuan, have you considered selling mala tang (spicy hot pot)? There would definitely be a lot of people willing to drive here to eat it," Zhao Yan asked curiously.
"Of course I'll sell, but not now. I'm too busy cooking to be in two places at once."
Lu Yuan shrugged; this was the biggest problem right now.
It's not just mala tang (spicy hot pot); due to staff shortages, many other dishes can't be added to the menu.
That's why he asked the old master for help to gather some young people from the Lu family and train them to be suitable assistants so that the menu could be updated more quickly.
At the same time, we can teach them a skill and help them open their own restaurant.
(This recipe would sell for 2 on the market, what a scam.)