Xu Milu opened the kiln opening, and the fire spirit inside bounced twice, spewing out small flames, which Xu Milu calmly swatted away.
The ducks are hung on hooks and roasted over a medium fire in a kiln for half an hour. When they are almost done, they are taken out, sprayed with water, and roasted for another half hour.
The sweet honey water slowly seeped into the duck's skin during roasting, and the duck's fat was slowly rendered out, dripping into the fire with a soft "crackling" sound, making Mo Xuan's mouth water.
"It smells so good! This flavor is something no one else can replicate. How can it be so sweet and delicious? Normally, duck is the least flavorful food. It's either dry and tasteless or greasy and unappetizing. I used to have it deboned and deep-fried to go with my drinks. But roasted like this, the aroma is so irresistible!"
The aroma of roast duck doesn't burst out suddenly; it unfolds slowly and quietly, subtly taking over one's sense of smell. The sweet fragrance, the oil, and the intense heat create a wonderful reaction. Before you know it, your mouth and nose will be filled with this intoxicating sweetness.
Also drawn by the aroma was Wei Ying, who looked pale and was clutching his stomach as he leaned against Xu Milu's door.
"Madam Xu! What day is it today?! How could you cook such fragrant dishes?! I could smell it from several streets away. My father was about to sever ties with me because I was picking osmanthus flowers for you. Please have pity on me and give me a bowl of rice!"
Before he could finish speaking, his eyes were already glued to the freshly roasted duck.
Its color is bright and vivid red, like a layer of translucent rouge, or the most dazzling and vibrant sunset. Its surface is almost like translucent glass.
"Click—"
With a swift stroke of her knife, Xu Milu shattered the duck skin, revealing its crispness and thinness. A burst of intense heat emanated from the cut, instantly filling the entire courtyard.
"Slurp—"
"Slurp—hiss—"
"Slurp..."
Now the whole yard was filled with the sound of people swallowing their saliva.
...
...
The sliced roast duck is stacked on a plate, each piece with skin and meat attached, the skin is oily and the inside is tender and juicy.
Sitting in the corner, Hu Silang watched as everyone else started eating before daring to pick up his chopsticks and enjoy the food in front of him.
"Click".
As soon as the duck skin entered his mouth, Hu Silang's mouth watered uncontrollably. The duck skin, roasted over medium heat, had almost all the excess oil rendered out. The thick skin even had a crispy texture like a pastry, but the perfect sweetness and oiliness kept tempting him, making him want to eat another piece.
The duck meat is tender and juicy, almost melting in your mouth with just one bite. After chewing, there are no bits of duck meat left, only a mouthful of rich, oily flavor.
"Roast duck should be served with sweet bean sauce and spring pancakes, and shredded cucumber and scallions to cut through the richness."
As Xu Milu spoke, she took out her hand and made one as a demonstration. The dough was so thin that it was almost translucent. First, she put on a few slices of oily duck skin, then added a few scallion shreds, a few cucumber shreds, and finally added brown sweet bean sauce.
Sweet bean sauce is also easy to make. Add dark soy sauce to cold water, then add flour and stir until no lumps are visible. Do not add oil to the pot. Turn on low heat and pour the flour mixture into the pot, stirring little by little. When the liquid becomes thick, add white sugar and salad oil according to your taste and stir.
"Hmm."
Xu Milu took a bite of the spring pancake and looked amazed.
This duck is of excellent quality. Smoked over a medium fire with fruitwood charcoal, the skin and meat have a subtle fruity aroma. The honey water brushed on the skin several times is the finishing touch, bringing a unique slightly sweet taste.
The combination of shredded scallions and cucumbers effectively alleviates the greasiness of the duck meat. The dough wraps around sweet bean sauce and various ingredients, and with each bite, multiple layers of flavor unfold: the refreshing cucumber, the slightly spicy scallions, the rich sweet bean sauce, and the oily and succulent duck skin are all encased in the simple dough.
"It's delicious!"
Xu Milu took another bite, then found her notebook and jotted down her shortcomings. By the time she finished writing, the others had already eaten until their faces were glistening with oil and they looked dazed.
“…Gah…”
A cry rang out, and Xu Milu looked down to see that Ah Chou, who had grown several times larger, had crawled out from some corner.
"Ah Chou? You're awake?"
Ah Chou responded again, bumping his head against her calf, his two dark eyes fixed on the roast duck, filled with longing.
"Gah—"
Xu Milu had reason to suspect that this guy was actually woken up by the aroma of roast duck.
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