Preserved egg and lean pork congee, a classic Cantonese dish.
Simple to make yet unique in flavor, it once swept across Blue Star. In the grand culinary era, similar dishes exist.
Due to its widespread dissemination, numerous variations have emerged, such as chicken and mushroom congee, lean pork and vegetable congee, and so on.
"You guessed correctly, it's preserved egg and lean pork congee."
The disciples revealed surprised expressions one after another.
The main reason was that preserved egg and lean pork congee was too common, something ordinary people, regular congee stalls, and breakfast spots could serve. It was truly not a high-end item.
When Zhang Wei made it, it should have been extremely luxurious!
Could it be... there was some unusual modification?
Some impatient ones kept their eyes darting back and forth among the selection of ingredients.
Trying to find any unusual or unconventional ingredients.
Much like the milk in Warrior's Blood.
Finely ground rice, shredded carrots, chopped celery, chopped cilantro, salt, sugar, pork hind leg meat, mushroom pieces…
"Strange, they all look like very conventional ingredients."
"And their capture levels aren't high, the highest is only level five. Can food of this caliber maintain the nutrition for the wounded?"
The higher the grade of ingredients, the higher the nutrient content.
For every level the food grade increased, the nutrient content increased by about 20%. Level ten food had six times the energy of level one food!
Level twenty had 36 times that of level one.
However, most of the supporting supplies were between levels 1-5, with very few high-grade items. The increase in nutrient content of ingredients could not keep up with the increase in price.
The price of level twenty ingredients was hundreds of times that of level one! They could already be used as the signature dish in many large hotels.
Even for century-old establishments like Wangyue Zhai and Water Hotel, level twenty ingredient dishes required half a month's reservation.
"Esteemed Teacher, what should we do next?"
"Just watch. This is different from the city defense forces. It concerns the lives of the wounded, so I need to personally control the quality."
The disciples were initially puzzled, then disbelievingly asked, "You mean, you're going to prepare food for two thousand people by yourself?"
"That's right."
This time, not only the disciples were speechless, but even the onlookers were in an uproar.
Preparing food for two thousand people by oneself?
If it hadn't been Zhang Wei who said it, the audience's boos would have been deafening.
Zhang Wei surveyed the disciples and said, "The next dish is very complex. How much you can learn depends on your talent."
This was also one of Zhang Wei's methods.
Using this opportunity to screen out some chefs with better aptitude, whom he could try to cultivate more intensely.
Everyone was stunned.
Preserved egg and lean pork congee, how complex could it be?
But since Zhang Wei said so, it must be extraordinary!
Zhang Wei first took the pork hindquarters, the so-called lean meat, and cut it with the sharpest knife.
Cutting lean meat required great skill. The meat pieces couldn't be too large or too small, and each small piece had to be disconnected from others, otherwise, it would become minced meat, affecting the taste.
Normally, this step would require freezing the lean meat into a solid block. Cutting with a knife would then be much easier.
Zhang Wei also used the freezing method before.
Because even the sharpest knife couldn't prevent the meat from deforming.
If one could truly cut the meat into perfect small cubes of millimeters, the culinary skill required would be more exaggerated than for Lantern Shadow Beef.
Now, with the enhancement of extraordinary power, Zhang Wei's knife skills had become transcendent.
After being cut by the sharp blade qi, the meat pieces hadn't even noticed before a lateral cut struck again…
Vertical, horizontal, and perpendicular…
All in one go!
With a gentle touch, the entire block of meat instantly scattered, each piece of uniform size!
"My knife skills have improved a bit more."
Next was the chicken, carrots, mushrooms, cilantro…
They were processed with swiftness and grace, a delight to behold.
"Before the meat and mushrooms go into the pot, they need to be blanched in warm water. Remember, take them out immediately once the water boils!"
Next came the ostrich preserved eggs.
Previously, preserved eggs were usually made from chicken or duck eggs. Zhang Wei had never seen preserved eggs made from ostrich eggs before.
This traditional Blue Star delicacy could be said to have a very unique flavor, and it was also a nightmare for many foreign friends.
When the preserved egg was cut open, a soft, sticky sauce flowed out from the blue-purple yolk, while the dark egg white on the outside was crystal clear and very elastic.
"The preserved eggs are made exceptionally well, even better than I imagined!"
"Everyone, watch closely. To avoid affecting the light and fresh taste of the soup and congee, we need to remove the uncoagulated part of the yolk, using only the transparent egg white and the solid outer layer of the yolk."
At this point, the preserved egg was somewhat similar to a soft-boiled fried egg.
However, this version of preserved egg and lean pork congee didn't require a soft yolk.
"Bring me the cooked congee."
This congee required long hours of simmering, and it was the only part the disciples had participated in.
During the cooking of the congee, salad oil and soda water were added according to Zhang Wei's instructions.
A small amount of salad oil would make the congee smoother and softer, while the soda water's role was to neutralize acidity and alkalinity, preventing excessive foam from rising during cooking and preventing the congee from becoming too thick.
At this point, the stir-fried lean pork and chicken were mixed together, with ginger slivers, cooking wine, oyster sauce, and seafood soy sauce, marinated briefly. The marinating time should not be too long.
"All the ingredients are ready."
Zhang Wei tasted them one by one.
Plain congee, vegetables, meat…
He first nodded, then shook his head, and then began to continuously adjust the ratio of ingredients.
The disciples watched with confusion.
Zhang Wei calculated in his mind for a moment and said, "It's almost there."
Boil the congee over high heat!
First, add half of the preserved eggs and stir well.
After about five minutes, add the remaining preserved eggs and meat pieces.
When the congee had boiled three times, add the shredded vegetables, chopped cilantro, and mushrooms…
A delicate aroma wafted out, instantly whetting everyone's appetite.
The disciples gathered around.
"The rice has already bloomed, the congee must be very tender!"
"The white congee is dotted with green vegetables and dark meat pieces, it looks very appetizing."
"As expected of Esteemed Teacher, even preserved egg and lean pork congee can be made so wonderfully!"
He took out a bowl.
Letting it cool slightly.
Zhang Wei picked up a spoon and took a small sip.
"Alas, it's a failure."
"It's indeed difficult. The chance of getting it right on the first try is slim."
"Don't waste it. You all eat this pot. Recover some energy first, you've all been tired supporting this far."
Everyone's appetite was piqued.
They each took bowls and spoons.
"Mmm~ Delicious!"
"The flavor is light and elegant, fragrant but not greasy!"
"This is simply perfect, it's so delicious, how can it be a failure?"
"Even this taste is a failure, how high are Esteemed Teacher's standards!"
"No wonder he didn't let us participate. With my skills, to achieve even half of this congee's flavor would be a massive stretch. I definitely wouldn't reach the standard Esteemed Teacher requires!"
The disciples whispered amongst themselves.
At this moment, a voice came from afar.
"Give me a bowl too!"
Zhang Wei was startled, "Why are you here?"