Chapter 201 Potatoes and Pork: A Perfect Match
The moment Su Yingxue's gaze fell upon the large white pig, she was instantly captivated, as if she were struck by a magnet.
That pig was really fat, its round body like a fully inflated ball, its snow-white bristles so shiny they reflected light, its four short legs supporting its heavy body, swaying with every step, the fat on its belly trembling gently with each step, giving off a signal that "the meat is absolutely amazing".
She subconsciously swallowed, her earlier regret over the potatoes vanishing instantly, replaced by excitement in her eyes, her voice rising a fraction: "My goodness, this pig is raised so well!"
As she spoke, she circled the pig twice, carefully poking its back with her finger, feeling a soft, warm sensation.
Su Yingxue's eyes were so bright they seemed to sparkle. She turned to look at Mu Xiaoxiao, who was still fuming, and her smile stretched almost to her ears: "Xiaoxiao, don't be angry! This isn't trouble at all, it's a blessing from heaven!"
Mu Xiaoxiao frowned, her cheeks still puffed out: "Benefits? They've eaten most of my experimental potatoes, and the goods I promised you for tomorrow are nowhere to be found. This is clearly a disaster!"
"No! No! No!"
Su Yingxue waved her finger, leaned closer to her and lowered her voice, her tone full of undisguised cunning.
"Think about it, what level are your potatoes? They're the ultimate ingredient that 'melts in your mouth'! If this pig eats your divine potatoes, its meat will definitely be nourished and become more tender and fresh, and it might even have a hint of potato sweetness!"
She became more and more excited as she spoke, and reached out to pat the big white pig's head. The pig grunted obediently, which left Li Wei stunned.
Su Yingxue turned to look at him, smiling like a little fox who had found a treasure: "Junior Brother Li Wei, you got a great deal on this pig! Losing potatoes is no fun at all, we'll take this pig!"
Li Wei, who was initially uneasy, nodded quickly upon hearing this: "I'm glad you're satisfied, Senior Sister! This pig is a key breed in our animal husbandry program. It's fed additive-free feed, and now it's eaten Senior Sister Xiaoxiao's high-quality potatoes, so the meat quality is absolutely top-notch!"
"Of course!"
Su Yingxue rubbed her hands together, her mind racing. "We can upgrade our roasted potatoes, but this pork is the new blockbuster! Braised pork with potatoes, pork and potato skewers, and pork patties with mashed potatoes... Combining these two divine ingredients will drive everyone at the Agricultural University crazy!"
As Mu Xiaoxiao listened to her musings, her initial anger gradually dissipated, and her eyes brightened: "It seems... there really is something to it? But I've never done anything related to pork before, what if I mess it up?"
"What's there to be afraid of!"
Su Yingxue patted her chest confidently, "You're a potato expert, controlling the quality of the ingredients; I have a secret sauce to handle the seasoning and cooking; plus this 'potato-fed immortal pig,' the three of us work together, it's hard for it not to taste delicious!"
She turned to look at the big white pig and smiled gently: "Brother Pig, from today onwards, you are the 'top ingredient' of our stall. Don't worry, I will definitely make you the most popular delicacy in the entire Agricultural University, so as not to let down those divine potatoes you have eaten!"
As if it understood, the big white pig swished its tail and rubbed against Su Yingxue's arm, making all three of them laugh.
The gloom left by the earlier ravages of the experimental field has long been burned away by the new flames of entrepreneurship.
Seeing this, Li Wei finally relaxed and couldn't help but chime in, "Senior sister, can I apply to be a food taster? I've never tasted food made from pigs I raised myself!"
"sure!"
Su Yingxue readily agreed, "Not only will you get to try it, but you'll also get a share of the profits once the new product becomes a hit! By then, your reputation as a junior aquaculture farmer might even surpass that of my roasted potato stall!"
As the three were chatting animatedly, the big white pig suddenly struggled toward Su Yingxue's stall, sniffing hard with its nose, apparently because it smelled the aroma of roasted potatoes.
Seeing this, Su Yingxue laughed even harder: "Look, look, even the pigs know that our roasted potatoes are delicious. This is such a coincidence!"
Mu Xiaoxiao looked at the enthusiastic Su Yingxue and the docile white pig in front of her.
Suddenly, I felt that this unexpected "pig disaster" might actually be the most surprising turning point in their experimental journey.
The next morning, before the food stalls on the street had fully come alive, Su Yingxue and Mu Xiaoxiao were already busy with the best cuts of the "potato-fed fairy pig."
Li Wei, also filled with anticipation for tasting the food, brought his own specially prepared clean water for aquaculture to help. The three of them gathered around the makeshift extra grill and iron pot, their eyes full of enthusiasm.
Su Yingxue selected pork ribs and pork belly. First, she chopped the ribs into inch-long pieces, soaked them in water to remove the blood, and then sprinkled them with ginger slices and a little cooking wine to remove the fishy smell.
Mu Xiaoxiao squatted to the side processing potatoes. She selected a few remaining intact test potatoes, peeled them, and cut them into evenly sized chunks. Every now and then, she would pick up a small piece and bring it close to her nose to smell it, afraid that the quality of the ingredients might be slightly off.
"Xiaoxiao, blanch the potato chunks to remove the starch, so they won't fall apart when you stew the ribs later!"
As Su Yingxue made fine cuts on the pork belly, she directed the process while simultaneously preparing her secret sauce. She mixed soy sauce, oyster sauce, and honey in precise proportions, adding a little of her own sun-dried chili powder and white sesame seeds. The aroma instantly wafted out, attracting the attention of the owner of the neighboring stall who craned his neck to look.
Place the blanched potato chunks and ribs into an iron pot, pour in the prepared sauce, and add enough water to cover the ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer.
As the temperature rises, the aroma of the pork ribs and the sweetness of the potatoes gradually blend together, and the broth slowly thickens, coating every piece of food.
The originally snow-white potatoes absorbed the meat juices and turned an enticing reddish-brown color. The ribs were stewed until they fell off the bone with a gentle poke. The aroma wafted far and wide on the wind, attracting early-rising students who gathered around the smell.
"Boss, what is this? It smells amazing!" someone couldn't help but peek out and ask.
Su Yingxue wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled warmly: "Our new braised pork ribs with potatoes are made with pigs fed with divine potatoes. It's guaranteed to melt in your mouth. Just a moment, it'll be ready soon!"
On the other side, the pork belly on the grill began to sizzle and drip oil. Su Yingxue laid the thinly sliced pork belly on the grill, and once one side was golden brown and crispy, she flipped it over, brushed on the sauce, then added a few slices of potato that Mu Xiaoxiao had cut, and finally rolled it into a small roll and secured it with a bamboo skewer.
The heat of the charcoal fire rendered out the fat from the pork belly, which then soaked into the potato slices, making the potatoes soft and tender while the pork belly took on a smoky aroma. The two complemented each other perfectly. The freshly grilled skewers, glistening with oil, made the students watching swallow hard.
Li Wei stood to the side, his eyes wide with amazement. He reached out to grab a skewer, but Su Yingxue gently slapped his hand away: "What's the rush? Let the guests try it first! We'll save the biggest one for you later!"
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