Shokugeki no Imitation Chef

"Unpalatable!"

"It's like chicken cake dipped in vegetable soup..."

"Indeed, this time the outer layer of'lactone tofu' was fried enough tough, but the inside was still very thin, and the mapo sauce was not tasty. ΩΔ┡ small "Δ""

After Liu Maoxing and Liu Maoyuan tasted the finished product, they frowned at the same time!

This is their third attempt. In the first attempt, the frying time was too short and it was fried at a low temperature. When it was stir-fried with the ready-made mapo sauce, although it was not fried under the powerful control of Liu Subaru Rotten, but when it tastes, the taste is a bit bad...

When I tried it for the second time, the cooking time was a little longer, and the taste was still not good after the stir-frying.

In this attempt, Pleiades Liu chose high-temperature frying, which quickly converged the outer skin of the "Lean Fat Tofu" in a short period of time, while the inside was still immature.

However, the taste is still not very good, because the tofu skin is astringent, although the toughness is enough and it is not fried, the mapo sauce cannot penetrate into the tofu!

Although the inside is very tender, it is just like what Liu Subaru said, it's like chicken cake dipped in vegetable soup!

In fact, if this is not an assessment, but a competition titled "Mapo Tofu", Liu Subaru is not incapable of solving these problems, as long as the composition of the Mapo sauce is changed...

Whether it is changed to "Giant Panda Mapo Tofu", a sauce that can be poured on steamed tofu, or a thinner boiled soup, it can make up for the deficiency of "Lactone Tofu".

However, what is being considered now is not how to improve the sauce and make up for the deficiency of "lactone tofu", but to "disappear" the deficiency of "lactone tofu" by controlling the heat!

This sauce is immobile...

Liu Subaru's pyrotechnic skills, although in the presence of "touch", have reached their peak.

But the problem is that Pleiades Liu himself doesn't know what kind of heat he should use to deal with, he doesn't even have a "target", and naturally no matter how high his firework is!

"But I think that the general direction should be right, but a few points must be considered... First, the outer skin must be tough enough, but not so that the taste of the sauce cannot penetrate; then the inside of the'lactone tofu' must be maintained. The fresh and tender taste should not be too thin, but it should not be the same as the skin..." Liu Maoyuan said from the side.

Indeed, this speculation is more realistic.

After all, in the previous experiments, the "advantages" of each time were actually optimized again, and then combined together, it can be regarded as "barely applicable"!

However, Liu Subaru still feels that just doing this to produce a Mapo tofu that is "close to normal Mapo tofu" does not seem to be what he should pursue...

"Then you go try it first, I think I can think about it again." After Liu Subaru said, he sat on the high stool in front of the cooking table.

This may be regarded as an "occupational disease" of Yuanyue students. After all, students who always think "to complete with the minimum" during each assessment will not stay long in Yuanyue!

And now Liu Subaru is thinking about how to "complete the Mapo Lipid Tofu in accordance with the highest standards."

That is how to make this "Mapo Tofu", without changing the sauce ratio, nor changing the ingredients used is "lactone tofu", so that the finished product will have its own flavor, even the more common tofu!

In Liu Maoyuan and Zhao's brothers, time after trial, time passed slowly...

In the middle of the journey, Liu Maoyuan also reminded Liu Maoxing several times. As a chef, he must understand how to choose. Now it is best not to delay the time and start to try well. Otherwise, it is very likely that at eight o'clock, he still can't come up with any decent products.

But with a word from Liu Subaru, Liu Subaru never spoke to him again...

"Huh? Isn't this just the'test' given to us by Senior Lou San? The big deal is to fail? So what? I didn't say what to bet on..."

What they said makes sense, but Liu Maoyuan and others are speechless about such unambitious words!

Dinner was delivered on time at six o'clock, just the simplest egg fried rice, but... it actually has a special one-star level!

"This is...golden fried rice?" Liu Subaru's eyes lit up.

"Yes, this is also one of the two cheapest'dishes' in'Yangquan Restaurant', and the other is'fried Qingjiang dishes'." Liu Maoyuan said.

"It seems that Master really wants us to dispose of these experimental products by ourselves."

"But if there is golden fried rice, even if there is no other meal, I can still eat a bucket!"

The Zhao brothers discussed it.

Full of confidence in his younger brother Zhao Liang, Zhao Ming couldn't help but slap: "I think it's better for you to eat a bucket of'Mapo Tofu'. Do you know how many failed products we'produced' just now?"

"..."

"bad!"

While Zhao Liang was speechless, Liu Maoyuan also whispered, but immediately afterwards, her eyes scanned Liu Maoxing...

"Well, give me the finished product that you made, which is still edible...the taste is too curious, so solve it by yourself!" Liu Subaru said with a shrug.

"Eh? What are you going to do? If you waste food, Master will be angry..." Zhao Ming couldn't help asking.

Liu Subaru smiled confidently: "Don't worry, I know what'waste' means, and I understand'food', but I don't even know what it is together!"

Later, Pleiades Liu used practical actions to prove what it means "a dog that can bark does not bite" (Liu Subaru:?)!

Zhao Liang, who "speaks madly", looked round, but after eating two or three people, he was already lying on the ground and fighting...

However, Liu Maoxing swept away the rest. It is estimated that there will be at least a dozen people. Just "adding food" will add four or five bowls!

"It's a pity that it's not too delicious, I can only barely'fellow'!" Liu Subaru said, patted his belly without bulging.

"How do I feel that you can eat better? It's a sequelae after the last epiphany? Now you don't even need'that what'?" Liu Maoyuan also unexpectedly said.

If we go into details, the "what" is obviously related to the "spiritual incident" encountered by the Central Food Authority in the old school building!

And the elder brother of the Zhao brothers said at this time: "Next time I will definitely ask you to eat'delicious' food as a thank you!"

"It's nothing, I haven't tried anything. Now that I have tasted your experimental products, it can be considered as a little more insight, which saves me time for trying and thinking next!" Liu Subaru said.

"Eh? Is it okay to just eat it? Don't take it for granted..." Liu Maoyuan obviously still doesn't understand the role of "taste".

"Of course, I just happened to have some thoughts... Senior Lou San only said that no other ingredients, spices or water can be used, but he didn't say that I can't take the'lactone tofu' out, right?" Liu Subaru said.

"Eh? What are you going to do? It's almost seven o'clock, and Uncle Lou should be back soon, right?"

"It's okay, then tell him, I will be back before eight o'clock!"

Liu Subaru said, took a few pieces of "lactone tofu" wrapped in plastic wrap, and left the kitchen...

As for Liu Maoyuan and the Zhao family brothers, they had already experimented almost at this time, and basically figured out some patterns, and began the final adjustment stage.

Theoretically, after tasting their "Mapo lactone tofu (semi-finished product)", Liu Subaru had equalized their progress, but Liu Subaru suddenly thought of another idea, so he went to find a "tool" first...

Sure enough, Liu Lousan had already returned by ten ten after seven.

Although eight o'clock is the deadline, if someone finishes it, he can already taste it.

"Huh? What about the kid?" Liu Lousan asked in confusion.

"Uncle, A Xing said he was going to find some tools... and took a few bags of lactone tofu away, saying that he would be back on time." Liu Maoyuan explained.

Liu Lousan nodded non-committal.

In the next half an hour, Liu Maoyuan and the Zhao brothers also made finished products and presented them to Liu Lousan.

This time Liu Maoyuan learned the lesson and decided to postpone it to the last "hand in paper."

The first one was Zhao Ming. Ten years ago, when Zhao Ming was only eleven or twelve years old, he still had an instinctive fear of flames.

Although it is said that the child of the poor family was in charge early, the two brothers grew up with their mother and never had the memory of their father, so they would cook their own food since childhood... But from that time, it was the two brothers who cooperated, and the brother was responsible for the knife. Responsible for using fire.

After ten years of rectification, although it will not show up now, the trace of fear in my heart cannot be changed, so the fireworker is always worse than my younger brother...

"Do you think the texture of this tofu really matches with the sauce? The toughness of the outer layer is fairly moderate, but the inside... I feel like chewing dried tofu. I used fire for too long before! You should understand me What do you want to say? If you want to begin to comprehend the "essence of firework", you must use your heart to feel the existence of "fire", instead of "putting your heart" far away where you can't feel the fire. !"

“Don’t think that you are just a barrier to open flames. You can use ovens and other heating methods to take shortcuts! The easiest way to feel the "spiritual spirit" is to use open flames. Although other equipment is easy to learn, but you want to master it. It is very difficult, and it can even be said that without the basis of open flame, it is impossible to master the "essence of firework" purely with other equipment..." Liu Lousan repeatedly exhorted.

After Zhao Liang and Liu Subaruland, Liu Lousan tried their best.

It can be seen that Liu Maoyuan is stronger than Zhao Liang but lower than Zhao Ming in knife skills, but the opposite is true in Pyrotechnics...

This also made Liu Lousan sigh secretly, in fact, the talents of the Zhao brothers are not much worse than that of Liu Maoyuan, but because they all have their own flaws, their performance is not obvious.

And just when it was about eight o'clock in just fifteen minutes, Liu Subaru came back with a small basin...

"Huh? You are all done? Okay, wait a minute, I'll be fine soon!" Liu Subaru said.

Seeing Liu Subaru finished speaking, he set the fire on, and then put in the ready-made sauce, but the amount seemed a little small?

The prepared "Mapo Sauce" already contains minced meat, and all the ingredients and fat are fried to the right level in advance. When using it, just re-fry the whole.

Such a simple operation, whether it is "tactile" or "smell", can make Liu Subaru easily grasp the situation...

Liu Subaru skillfully used a shovel, fiddled with the pot a few times, spread the sauce to the most suitable heating area, and a scent of aroma came out of the pan after a while, and at this moment, Liu Subaru closed his eyes and The sense of smell grasped the timing, sprinkled the "small basin" slightly, and poured little water into it...

and many more!There seems to be something wrong...

water?

Liu Maoyuan and the Zhao brothers couldn't help but their eyes widened. Although the amount is not a lot, but...this is an obvious cheating!All said that it is not allowed to add other ingredients, including "water"!

Although surprised, but out of respect, Liu Lousan and the others did not remind them, but just waited.

After the sauce was mixed with water and reheated to the fragrant temperature, Liu Maoxing then poured the tofu in the small bowl...

Seeing his movements are quite casual, it seems that these "lactone tofu" are already very strong?

According to the experience of the Zhao brothers and Liu Maoyuan, in order to ensure the taste, the "lactone tofu" is usually not fried so "firm", otherwise, although it is easy and not easy to break when stir-fried, the taste will decrease.

After the stir-frying, Liu Maoxing poured out the "Mapo Tofu", and several other people also paid attention to the things on the plate...

"A Xing, did you forget that you are not allowed to add water?" Liu Maoyuan couldn't help but reminded him in a low voice.

"No, what Senior Lou San said is not that'adding water' is not allowed..."

"Huh? How is it possible? Didn't the master say before that nothing is allowed to be added?" Zhao Ming questioned.

"Yes, it's not that'adding water' is not allowed, but that'adding foreign ingredients or spices' is not allowed!" Liu Subaru said.

"What's the difference? Master didn't prepare water for us?" Zhao Ming was still puzzled.

At this moment, Liu Lousan said, "No, A Xing is right. Although I didn't directly prepare water,... the water content of tofu is more than 85%, and lactone tofu is even higher! "

The essence of tofu is equivalent to a colloidal solution formed by water and soy. Most of the water and soy have no chemical reaction, but are physically combined in the form of a colloid.

"The water content of tofu...what? Is this the water in the tofu? Then... how did he draw the water out?" Zhao Liang was surprised.

"Don't understand? Take a closer look at this plate of'Mapo Tofu'!" Liu Lousan said.

The other three looked at the tofu cubes attentively...

In fact, at the first glance, they thought this plate of "Mapo Tofu" was a bit strange.

First, "Mapo Tofu" should be in the "color", it should be red and white, dotted with green chopped green onions. At most, the tofu will appear bright yellow after heating, which should also be red, yellow and green. .

But in Liu Subaru's "Mapo Tofu", the tofu cubes are also red!

When Liu Maoxing just poured the tofu into the pot, although he didn't see it clearly, the color was definitely not so eye-catching...

When the three of them observed carefully, it was discovered that it was not the tofu cubes that had turned red, but that they were densely covered with honeycomb-like hollow structures. The mapo sauce mixed with water was absorbed in these hollows and became red. !

"This is...frozen tofu?" Zhao Ming understood a little: "Ah! The water is the water that melts the frozen tofu after thawing!"

Frozen tofu, an ingredient derived from tofu, is usually placed in the refrigerator or freezer...in winter, it can also be frozen directly outside, and after it is completely frozen, it is the result of thawing.

The water content of tofu is extremely high, and when the water is below 4 degrees, it has the characteristics of anti-expansion, that is, the lower the temperature, the lower the density, and when the water becomes ice, the density is smaller than water!

And as the temperature decreases, especially after it becomes ice, the combination of water and legumes will also change. Part of the water can no longer maintain the state of colloidal solution, and separates from legumes, forming individual small ice crystals. , And the tofu with a large amount of water removed, the physical state is no longer tender and fragile, but with a certain degree of toughness, biased towards the texture of dried tofu and bean skin.

And because the ice crystals "squeeze out" the gaps, the frozen tofu has a honeycomb-like structure after thawing, which is fluffy and elastic...

Therefore, it can absorb a large amount of soup, and it is very popular in soup or hot pot!

"That's it! A Xing, you went out to find equipment that can be frozen?" Liu Maoyuan came to understand.

After all, in this kitchen, there is no equipment that can freeze within an hour.

The Zhao brothers seemed to want to say something, but they didn't say anything at all...

Liu Lousan saw what the two brothers were thinking, and then he said, "No, it's not just processing'lactone tofu' into frozen tofu. The water in that small basin should be derived from these tofu. Right?"

"Yes, so it can be said that all the'lactone tofu' is added to it. There is neither more nor less water, but the form of existence has changed." Liu Subaru said.

"If this is the case, that means..."

Liu Lousan said, as if to verify his guess, he picked up a piece of "mapolide frozen tofu" and put it into his mouth.

When the tofu is clamped, it can be seen that the "lactone frozen tofu" is softer than ordinary frozen tofu. The full red mapo sauce is squeezed out under the pressure of the chopsticks, which looks impressive Feeling coveted!

And Liu Lousan couldn't help but his eyes bulged after the entrance of the tofu. He just felt like he was chewing, and the plump soup splashed all over his mouth...

Every part of the mouth lingers under the fragrance of mapo sauce, and most importantly, it is not just the taste of frozen tofu. When the outer layer of frozen tofu is soaked in the soup, the inside is still Has a smooth, soft part!

It is when it is not completely frozen, it is heated to relieve the frozen part!Still maintaining the soft taste of tofu...

Yes, these are not completely frozen tofu. Liu Lousan can see this from the amount of water!

Although lactone frozen tofu is softer than ordinary frozen tofu, the frozen tofu on the outside also prevents the tofu from spreading. At the same time, unlike fried tofu, the frozen tofu with a honeycomb structure on the outside will not only avoid the sauce The juice is blocked outside, but absorbed in!

The mapo sauce that has been diluted will surround the "tofu" in the cavity of the honeycomb, giving people a different taste and deliciousness from ordinary mapo tofu at the entrance. !

"This is simply...it can be called a'mapo bomb'!"

Not bad!It's an explosion!

This kind of semi-frozen tofu Mapo tofu gave Liu Lousan an explosive shock!

Obviously it is only used to "difficult" the other party's assessment questions, and it brings a new food experience!

"Sure enough! This is not just frozen tofu...but it also keeps the tofu fresh and tender, and because of the temperature rise after the low temperature, the taste has become free from the defect of'lactone tofu' too thin!" Liu Lousan said .

Although there is no specific value to compare this time, Liu Lousan's reaction has already explained everything.

Even the "Mapo Tofu" made by Zhao Liang and Liu Maoyuan, when they tasted Liu Lousan, Liu Lousan only commented that it was "close" to ordinary Mapo Tofu, but now Liu Lousan is very good at Liu Maoxing's Ma Po Tofu. Po tofu said frankly that it is delicious, and...

"A Xing, when you have time, how about reorganizing this'Mapo Bomb' recipe and putting it on the menus of'Yangquan Restaurant' and'Yangquan Hotel'? Then the restaurant will be priced at 288 One serving is priced at 68 in the hotel. For each one sold, you will be divided into 3o%."

"What? Add to the menu of'Yangquan Restaurant'? This..." The Zhao brothers exclaimed.

For chefs of Chinese cuisine, this is almost a privilege.

Although it is not a signature dish, it is just added to the menu, but you must know that many three-star Chinese cuisine wandering chefs are proud of having their own recipes attached to the menu of "Yangquan Restaurant"!

And Liu Subaru is only sixteen years old now, and the most important thing is... the embryonic form of this dish only comes from a difficult assessment!

"But Master... is this a'firework'?" Zhao Liang asked depressedly.

Subaru Star Liu proactively replied: "Of course! The so-called pyrotechnics not only refers to'fire', but refers to the control of temperature! Controlling low temperature is also the content that the chef should master, just like cold dishes, not the best Is the cooking temperature range?"

Of course, if the specific method of "semi-frozen lactone tofu" is to be promoted, Pleiades Liu thinks that it should be improved. He borrowed a spray bottle of liquid nitrogen before and then used the sliced ​​lactone tofu. Spray with tofu in your hands and hands!

If most people do this, it is estimated that they can be amputated directly...

On the other hand, Liu Subaru uses the warming of the skin to control the cooling effect of liquid nitrogen, so that it freezes the outer layer without freezing the inner layer... (to be continued.)