Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 768 - 389: Scalded

Cao Guixiang called Qin Huai back directly.

"Xiao Qin, your snacks are getting more and more diverse, even making these famous imperial snacks like lotus root powder balls."

Qin Huai was taken aback: "Huh, famous?"

Qin Huai didn’t expect Cao Guixiang to use such a descriptor; it was the first time he had heard it from Cao Guixiang’s mouth.

"Lotus root powder balls... do they have some kind of background?" Qin Huai asked tentatively, wondering if this snack had some hidden story he wasn’t aware of.

"No special background, just that this snack was once very famous in a restaurant in Beiping, it was a signature snack. I often heard my master mention it when I was training, so I have a deep impression of it."

"Signature snack?" Qin Huai was genuinely curious.

In his impression, whether it was listening to Cao Guixiang or Chen Huihong, the restaurants over in Beiping all focused on meat cooking.

The only place that was slightly good at pastry was Babaozhai, but Babaozhai’s pastry fell into decline with staff changes long ago, and even back then didn’t surpass the meat cooking. So how could there be a restaurant with a signature snack, especially lotus root powder balls?

"Have you heard of Taifeng Building?" Cao Guixiang asked, not waiting for Qin Huai to answer before saying directly, "I bet you haven’t, Taifeng Building was already shut down for many years by the time I was learning, let alone you, Xiao Qin."

"When my master was learning, Taifeng Building was the most famous restaurant in Beiping, of course, it also focused on meat cooking. But back then, Taifeng Building’s chef was famous for a dessert, lotus root powder balls, which was almost a must-order at banquets, and many affluent families’ women loved to know about this snack, eagerly comparing with each other, to the point that lotus root powder was once priced very high."

"But those lotus root powder balls are much more complicated than what you want to learn, Xiao Qin. Just the preparation takes a lot of time, and the soup needs special preparation."

"I don’t remember the exact filling, my master only mentioned it once, but back then I was craving it badly, dreaming of eating that version of lotus root powder balls."

"I remember the filling seemed to have Osmanthus, almond, walnut, pine nuts, kumquat cake, candied fruit, fresh fruits, white sugar, sesame and the like, which are all things kids love. At that time, I couldn’t even get such snacks during the New Year, and this small lotus root powder ball had them all, I really dreamed of eating it just hearing about the snack."

Qin Huai realized that Cao Guixiang’s master’s way of teaching apprentices was to first tempt them, telling them about delicious things, essentially "painting a cake."

Whether the cake materialized or not didn’t matter, getting the apprentice in first was the priority.

While Qin Huai was silently griping, Cao Guixiang talked about the issue Qin Huai was most concerned with: "As for that scalding method you mentioned, I know a bit about it, it’s quite challenging."

Qin Huai sat up straight: "Master, I also think the scalding process isn’t as simple as it looks... I mean, not as simple as it seems on the surface, there should be some technique to it."

Cao Guixiang chuckled slightly: "Then I’ll have to quiz you, do you know the properties of lotus root powder?"

Qin Huai: ?

"Huh?"

"You can look it up online, it’s clear. The starch content in lotus root powder is very high, over 85%. As for the properties of starch, like polysaccharides, amylose, amylopectin and the like, I’m not very clear on them."

"You just need to know one thing, amylose has anti-swelling properties, poor water solubility, insoluble in fat, and a high gelatinization temperature, so it’s insoluble in cold water but soluble in hot water, whereas amylopectin is difficult to dissolve in water, and will form a highly viscous gel when heated to boiling with water."

"Did what I just say not make sense? If it didn’t make sense, then great; I just looked it up online myself."

Qin Huai: ...?

"In terms a chef can understand, with these properties, using the scalding method can better make transparent lotus root powder balls."

"Transparency is for appearance, but not just that, this method makes the lotus root powder balls more flexible and elastic, making them chewier. After all, to truly enjoy the taste of desserts made with lotus root powder, you need to chew them."

Qin Huai understood.

"So the key step in making lotus root powder balls is actually the scalding. The filling is just a difference in taste, it’s the scalding that determines the soul of the lotus root powder balls."

"Exactly," said Cao Guixiang, "The fact that you recognized the importance of the scalding step shows that your thinking is correct, go ahead and try boldly, the specifics of how to scald will depend on you."

"I, your Master Cao, am a pure meat chef, not very skilled in these kinds of snacks, I’ll have to study for a few days to uncover the mystery behind it."

Qin Huai laughed and said, "Then I’ll have to trouble Master, I’ll be researching on my end too, and if I encounter any insurmountable problems, I’ll consult you." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"You should also rest early, don’t stay up late playing on your phone, I saw you were sharing mini-games with me at 3 AM last night."

Cao Guixiang was surprised: "Huh? I shared it with you? I meant to share it with Old Wang, oh dear, I must have clicked wrong."

Amidst Cao Guixiang’s regretful voice, Qin Huai hung up the phone, watched the lotus root powder balls tutorial video twice more, then left the room to wash up.

Shi Dadan had already gone back, Wang Gen Sheng was also resting, and the computer wasn’t on the dining table in the living room, probably taken into the room by Wang Gen Sheng, showing the caution of professional accountants.

Qin Huai washed up quickly and fell into a deep sleep, planning to go to Huang Ji tomorrow to experiment with lotus root powder balls.

Of course, before making lotus root powder balls, he had to make chicken soup noodles first. The chefs at Huang Ji and Zheng Siyuan had been waiting hungrily all day, it wouldn’t be right to be late again tomorrow.

The next day Qin Huai got up early, by the time he got up, Wang Gen Sheng was already out, probably for a morning jog.

Uncle Wang was very health-conscious, always sticking to his morning jog regardless of how good breakfast may be.

When Qin Huai got to Huang Ji, Zheng Siyuan hadn’t arrived yet, for once, being an early bird. Qin Huai checked the kitchen briefly, and upon discovering two large new bags of lotus root powder on the kitchen shelf, he couldn’t help but marvel at Huang An Yao’s business capability, his efficiency had dramatically improved.

Maybe it was because he got there too early, that even after kneading the noodles, no one else had arrived in the kitchen. So, keeping the principle that it’s better to find something to do than being idle, Qin Huai started making lotus root powder balls.

The lotus root powder prepared by Huang An Yao was very fine, needing no further rolling with a rolling pin, Qin Huai just gave it a quick cursory roll.

The filling was simple, white sugar mixed with lard and a bit of dried Osmanthus, practically without any difficulty.

I must say, the process of kneading the small balls was quite therapeutic and stress-relieving, reminiscent of the joy of playing with clay in elementary school.

Qin Huai was having a great time kneading the small balls.

Quickly, it was time for the scalding step.

A primitive tool like a bamboo tube definitely wasn’t available at Huang Ji, as its menu didn’t have bamboo rice either, but if it’s only for rolling lotus root powder balls, bamboo tubes weren’t necessary, as the kitchen had plenty of tools that could be used for rolling the balls.

Qin Huai searched in the cupboard and found a more suitable small iron tube. Just as he took it out, Zheng Siyuan came in.

Seeing Qin Huai arrive so early today, Zheng Siyuan was a bit surprised, growing even more bewildered upon seeing the already kneaded noodles on the counter.

However, Zheng Siyuan wasn’t much concerned with why Qin Huai came early; his attention was completely absorbed by the row of small balls on the counter and the iron tube in Qin Huai’s hand.

"What are you making?" Zheng Siyuan asked.

"Lotus root powder balls." Qin Huai, still engrossed in studying the iron tube he had just found, gave it a little shake as if testing it, feeling it was fine before looking up at Zheng Siyuan, "How’s Master Zheng?"

"Yesterday, Dong Shi told me that Master Zheng was in the kitchen making Double Crab Buns until 8 PM, shocking everyone. When will he come today? I’d like him to taste the lotus root powder balls once they’re done."

On hearing this, Zheng Siyuan’s expression turned back to emotionless: "My father’s not coming today."

"He just messaged me that the dog had diarrhea this morning, he has to take it to the pet hospital, not sure when he’ll be back."

"You have a dog at home?" Qin Huai was surprised.

Zheng Siyuan sneered: "No, it’s our neighbor’s dog."

"My father volunteered to take the dog to the pet hospital, couldn’t stop him."

"I thought he’d come around, planning to polish his culinary skills and properly become a snack master, but it seems I was overthinking."

"My dad is still my dad; he hasn’t changed a bit, even using such clumsy excuses."

Qin Huai: ...