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chapter 2
Chen Nianguan knows a lot about sauces.
She lives in a modern city where no matter what the chef cooks, the sauce is the key.
For example, the popular rice noodle roll relies on a spoonful of delicious sauce. For example, roasted duck in honey sauce also relies on the sauce when cooking and the dipping sauce when eating, and the ginger and onion sauce of white-cut chicken.Char siu sauce for meat, etc., sauce is essential.
Chen Nianguan grew up in a small county town north of the city.
In this county, there is a snack that you can't find outside the city, called beef brisket skewers.
Although they are all cooked with beef offal and brine sauce, they are different from beef offal.
Beef offal is stewed with enough stewed beef brisket, tripe, tendon, beef intestines, beef lungs, beef louver and radish. The sauce is delicious, and you can eat it directly after stewing.
However, the beef brisket skewers in the county are boiled with beef brisket and tendon as a base to make clear soup, add skewers, radishes, lotus root, kelp, fried tofu, meatballs, etc., and eat them with other boiled sauces after they are cooked.
Compared with beef offal, all the raw materials of beef brisket skewers have their own umami taste, and the sauce used to accompany it is more critical.
Sauce????? The sauce is clear and pasty, and there are two kinds of spicy and non-spicy, but it attracts many tourists to the small county for sightseeing, and the locals even regard this snack as a local specialty.
There are not many people making beef brisket skewers in the small county, because the sauce method is a commercial secret and will not be spread easily.
Coincidentally, Chen Nianguanโs cousin is one of the few people. He liked to eat and cook when he was young.It is close to 80% of the original flavor.
At that moment, Chen Nianguan saw that there were several kinds of spices for this kind of sauce in the kitchen, but he couldn't find the missing flavors, so he planned to make a makeshift meal, so he cut the radish and lotus root into thin slices, and then lit the firewood on the stove.
Because she had never started a fire, Chen Nianguan failed to start a fire a few times, and even made a room full of smoke. After coughing dryly and opening the window to breathe, she buried her head in fiddling with firewood and fire pockets, and managed to light a fire.Quickly take the earthen pot and stew the radish and lotus root.
Then prepare the sauce on the side.
When the oil pan is lifted, the ginger slices and garlic are put in to saute instantly, and then pepper, bean paste and other seasonings are added. After the smell comes out, add vinegar, salt and water and cook for a while. After forming, turn off the heat and you're done.
Chen Nianguan wiped the hot sweat off his forehead, immediately took a bowl, filled it with stewed radish and lotus root, scooped up a spoonful of sauce, dipped it into his mouth.
Although it lacks the flavor of the meat cooked with the beef brisket and tendon, it is equally delicious when paired with the spicy and spicy sauce.
It's like a stream that has been dry for a long time meets the sweet spring again, and my tongue, which has been dull for three days and three nights, finally springs back to the earth, and the flowers are full of fragrance.
Chen Nianguan was enjoying his meal when someone asked from the window, "What are you eating?"
Chen Nianguan was so frightened that he almost dropped the bowl. When he collected himself, he realized that it was an old man. He didn't know where he came from, but seeing that he was wearing cassock, he was probably a master who had practiced for many years.
The master jumped in easily from the window, then glanced at the contents of Chen Nianguan's bowl, walked to the stove, looked at the sauce in the pot, lowered his head to sniff, and turned back to use a pair of slenderHis eyes stared at her: "You did it?"
Chen Nianguan nodded.
At first glance, this master has a background, because there is a monk temple on the same mountain as Qingfeng Nunnery, named Dafeng Temple.
I am afraid that this master came from Dafeng Temple, then Qingfeng Nunnery was established only with Dafeng Temple, and Dafeng Temple is still the superior of Qingfeng Nunnery.
The higher-ups found out that the outsiders in Qingfeng Nunnery used the kitchen without permission, and used ingredients and firewood without authorization. No matter how you look at it, it was an act of thieves, so Chen Nianguan immediately said courteously: "Master, why don't you try it?"
No matter who the master is, as long as he tastes it, he is in the same rank as himself. If he is to be held accountable, he should also be counted as a part of it. With a heavyweight in charge, his punishment can be lessened.
The master was not polite, and asked Chen Nianguan how to eat. He took a few slices of radish and lotus root with chopsticks, scooped up a little sauce, and carefully put it into his mouth to bite. His eyes lit up immediately, looking atChen Nianwan nodded, and quickly finished eating a few slices of vegetarian dishes in the bowl, filled another big bowl, then scooped a big spoonful of sauce, dipped it in and sat on the stove to eat.
Chen Nianguan felt relieved.
When the master put down the bowl satisfactorily, the lotus root and radish in the earthen pot had been eaten clean, and there was not much sauce left.
He hiccupped in satisfaction and looked at Chen Nianguan: "Little girl is good, I saved your life in vain."
Chen Nianguan immediately understood that this master was Master Ming Hai who saved him that day, and expressed his gratitude immediately.
Master Ming Hai waved his hands politely, and asked again: "Miss Chen can cook?"
Chen Nianguan nodded: "Know a thing or two."
"Then, I wonder if Miss Chen can cook fish?"
Chen Nianguan was stunned, and immediately understood why the strange feeling came to him when he heard the teacher said that it was the old monk Ming Hai who rescued himself while fishing.
Monks don't kill, so why would they go fishing by the river for no reason?
Feelings, Master Ming Hai is a monk of wine and meat!
"I saved your life, how about Miss Chen cooking me a meal and repaying my kindness?" Master Ming Hai asked directly without beating around the bush.
If such a great kindness of saving one's life can be repaid with such a small matter as cooking, she will take advantage of it. Chen Nianguan was secretly happy, but he quickly shook his head humbly and said no.
"When monks save people, they only seek good deeds and don't ask for anything in return." Master Ming Hai shook his head, "If it wasn't for the unsatisfactory vegetarian food served in this temple, I wouldn't have made such a request to Miss Chen."
When it came to the indescribable vegetarian dishes in the temple, Chen Nianguan immediately had a common language with Master Ming Hai, and a sense of empathy for the same people who were lost in the world.
Since Master Ming Hai is a monk who does not abstain from meat and vegetables, he will naturally have higher requirements for vegetarians after eating meat. Obviously, neither the cooks of Dafeng Temple nor Qingfeng Nunnery can satisfy Master Ming Hai., to make a delicious Vegetarian Dish.
"Okay, since Master Ming Hai said so, I will boldly agree."
So the two made an appointment. Two days later, Master Ming Hai provided the ingredients and ingredients, and Chen Nianguan would go directly to the bamboo forest temple behind the Dafeng Temple.
After Chen Nianguan returned to her room, she slept for another three hours. When she opened her eyes, she found that the sky was broad daylight, and besides the bhikkhuni master Jingchen who usually took care of her, there was another young nun in the meditation room.
Chen Nianguan recalled it for a while, and suddenly felt bad. Last night when he secretly used the kitchen, he still wanted to clean it up. Unexpectedly, he had a good conversation with Master Ming Hai. When he left, he forgot to wash the pots and dishes. They found outwhat?
No, are they going to drive her out of the nunnery?Do you want to ask Master Ming Hai to come over and support the scene?
"Miss Chen, you were the one who cooked for Master Ming Hai last night?"
When Chen Nianguan heard this, he nodded quickly, "That's right, Master Ming Hai was hungry yesterday, and I found the kitchen, and I happened to be hungry too, so I went to the kitchen to look for something to eat, and I could cook whatever I wanted, so I made a fool of myself in front of Master Ming Hai.โ Sure enough, a good excuse can only be found with the company of a superior leader.
"Miss Chen is being modest, the sauce you cooked is obviously delicious." Xiao Ni couldn't help but said.
Chen Nianguan was puzzled.
How does she know the sauce I cook is delicious?
After getting acquainted with Xiao Ni later, realized that Chen Nianwan's visit to the kitchen was discovered by someone, only seeing that Master Ming Hai was there, so no one dared to pursue it.
And this little nun is the person in charge of the kitchen. After the two of them left, they went in to clean up. When they saw the sauce left in the pot, they tasted it and were very pleasantly surprised. Only then did they know that Chen Nianwan cooks well.
Master Jingchen glared at the little master, and asked with a smile: "Ms. Chen is recovering from her wounds in Qingfeng Nunnery. It may take some time. The poor nun has a request that I don't ask for, and I ask Ms. Chen to agree!"
"Master, you are serious. You and Master Ming Hai are my saviors. If there is anything I can help, feel free to ask." Chen Nianguan said modestly.
"To tell you the truth, Miss Chen, you spent a few days recuperating in this nunnery, and you also tasted the vegetarian food of our Qingfeng nunnery. It's really..."
unpalatable.
Master Jingchen didn't go on, Chen Nianguan added in his mind.
"This is Qingshuang, who is in charge of meals at our Qingfeng Nunnery."
Chen Nianguan looked at Little Master Qingshuang, and it turned out that she was the cook who wasn't very good at cooking!
"Qingshuang knows Miss Chen's cooking skills, and wants to ask for some advice. I wonder if Miss Chen is willing to teach?"
Did you come here to learn how to cook?
Chen Nianguan heaved a sigh of relief and nodded: "I am willing to do this little thing."
She still has to stay in Qingfeng Nunnery for a few days, it is impossible to open fire for herself every day, and teach Qingshuang little master's cooking skills. She doesn't expect to be delicious, at least let the vegetarian dishes she cooks be edible, and can benefit the people in Qingfeng Nunnery.And not guilty, what can you have against it?
So for the next two days, apart from going to the kitchen to watch little master Qingshuang cook, he would sleep after eating, after all his head was injured, adequate rest is very important.
Chef Qingshuang's cooking skills have improved little by little. At least she knows that according to the characteristics of each vegetarian dish, she needs to use different heat and the timing of salting.After serving the dishes, the taste of Qingfeng Nunnery's vegetarian dishes has been greatly improved.
The radish strips are cooked crispy and sweet, the loofah is tender and fragrant, and the tofu is creamy and spicy. The chefs of Qingfeng Nunnery are surprised that Qingshuang's cooking skills have improved by leaps and bounds in a short period of time. According to Master JingchenIt was taught by Chen Nianguan, who was convalescing in the nunnery, and all the nuns in the nunnery were polite to her.
On the day of the appointment with Master Ming Hai, Chen Nianguan has removed the bandage from the wound on her head, and she can go down the mountain at any time. She also plans to return to Funing County after fulfilling the appointment.
Chen Nianguan left Qingfeng Nunnery and went directly to the bamboo forest on the back mountain of Dafeng Temple. After walking in a bamboo forest for a long time, he saw a meditation room that looked like a hermit, with Master Ming Hai sitting in front of the steps.
When teaching Master Qingshuang to cook, Chen Nianguan found out the origin of Master Ming Hai.
He was originally an eminent monk of the Capital City Grand Buddhist Temple, and he is well-known in Beijing. Even today, the holy master often visits the Grand Buddhist Temple to listen to the Buddhist verses with the master, and he is also a guest of many dignitaries.
Later, Master Ming Hai got tired of Capital City, so he went all the way south to preach. He came to Funing County, Chuzhou half a month ago, and rescued Chen Nianguan shortly after placing an order in Dafeng Temple.
As for the fact that Master Ming Hai is a monk of wine and meat, no one knows, but because of his excellent Zen skills, no one takes it as a disobedience.
This fifty-year-old master, who still looks energetic, smiled when he saw Chen Nianguan appearing: "Miss Chen is here?"
Chen Nianguan nodded: "Master Ming Hai, I came for an appointment, and I don't know the ingredients you prepared..."
Having just mentioned this, Master Ming Hai invited Chen Nianwan into the meditation room. There was actually a courtyard inside, and two barrels full of lively river fish were placed in front of the courtyard.
By the way, she almost forgot, little master Qingshuang said that this world-renowned master likes to eat fish the most in his life.
"Master Ming Hai, there are so many fish, they are all prepared for me, right?" Chen Nianwan was stunned.
What kind of eminent monk is this?He's obviously a good fisherman, okay?
Ming Hai squinted his eyes and smiled, nodded slowly.