plumnovel Chapter 46 What is Tofu Pudding?
Chapter 46 What is Tofu Pudding?
Chapter 46 What is Tofu Pudding? (Read at night, please read on!!!)
It was as if an unseen little fairy was holding a freshly fried, golden, and crispy youtiao (Chinese fried dough stick) and waving it under Li Shimin's nose.
I'm so hungry!
Who on earth was the bastard who fried this thing in the palace? This is clearly an attempt to assassinate my stomach!
Li Shimin's mind began to race uncontrollably.
What kind of food smells like this?
What would it feel like to take a bite? It'll definitely be crunchy, right? And inside, will it be soft and fluffy?
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"
Fang Xuanling called out twice.
Li Shimin suddenly came to his senses and found that all the civil and military officials were staring at him.
"Huh? What is it?"
"Your Majesty, what are your thoughts on the selection of this disaster relief envoy?"
Fang Xuanling looked at the emperor with some concern. "What's wrong with Your Majesty today? Your eyes are unfocused, you seem absent-minded. Could it be that you've overworked yourself with state affairs?"
"Granted."
Li Shimin waved his hand dismissively, not even hearing who he was referring to, and said, "Granted. Court adjourned."
This dynasty is doomed to fail.
If he sat any longer, he was afraid he would drool in front of all the civil and military officials.
As soon as Wang Dequan finished shouting "Dismiss the court," Li Shimin sprang up from his dragon throne and rushed towards the rear hall with great speed.
"Prepare the carriage! Proceed to the Lizheng Hall!"
Li Shimin gritted his teeth as he walked.
The smell is coming from behind; it must be related to those few who were eating alone.
I didn't catch you in the act last night, but this morning I'm going to see what kind of delicacies you've been eating behind my back!
The palanquin was moving very fast, making Li Shimin's stomach even emptier.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Lizheng Hall, Li Shimin did not have anyone announce his arrival and simply pushed the door open and went inside.
"Guanyinbi! Nephew!"
The hall was empty.
Several palace maids were sweeping when they saw the emperor burst in, and they were so frightened that they knelt down.
"Where is the Empress? Where is the Princess?" Li Shimin looked around, but there was no one in sight.
"Go back to your Majesty."
A young palace maid answered tremblingly, "Her Majesty the Empress took Princess Jinyang out early this morning, saying—saying she was going for a walk to aid digestion."
Taking a walk? To digest?
Why would you need a snack so early in the morning? Unless you've already eaten too much!
Li Shimin was furious.
"To Da'an Palace!"
He rushed to Da'an Palace in a great hurry.
When they arrived, they found that the Emperor Emeritus was not there either, only an old eunuch at the gate was dozing off.
"Where is the Emperor Emeritus?" Li Shimin grabbed the old eunuch by the collar.
"Your Majesty—" The old eunuch woke up with a start, "The Emperor Emeritus didn't return home last night—he didn't come home all night!"
'
Didn't come home all night?
Li Shimin was dumbfounded.
The Emperor Emeritus, staying out all night? If word gets out, what will become of the Tang Dynasty's reputation?
But then he thought back to the aroma of that fried food—
Case solved!
The whole family, from the father to the daughter, and even the wife, must be in the same place right now, gathered around the same pot, eating the very thing that made him look bad in court!
"Great! Excellent!"
Li Shimin stood at the entrance of Da'an Palace, took a deep breath, and felt another rumble in his stomach.
"So you're not including me in your game, are you?"
The morning breeze swirled a few fallen leaves around in the courtyard, and the sun had just peeked over the eastern palace wall.
Su Mu moved the wooden tub, which was about half the size of a bathtub, onto the millstone.
As soon as the lid of the wooden barrel was lifted, the rising steam enveloped Su Mu's face.
White.
soft!
A full bucket of tofu pudding was still swaying slightly, and the rich aroma of soybeans was even more enticing than the smell of the fried dough sticks.
These beans were ground by Li Lizhi herself last night. She filtered them twice to remove the residue, and Su Mu carefully timed the process when adding the braising liquid. A minute too long and they would be too tough, a minute too short and they would be too runny.
"What's this? Unformed tofu?"
Li Yuan leaned closer, still holding half a fried dough stick in his hand, with some oil residue clinging to his beard.
Tofu pudding.
Su Mu picked up the copper spoon that he had used for several years and gently scraped its white and tender surface.
The spoon plunged into the tofu pudding with almost no resistance, and a full spoonful of trembling white jade was scooped into the coarse porcelain bowl.
"Do you eat sweet or salty food?"
Su Mu asked casually, his hands still moving, and without waiting for Li Yuan's answer, he picked up the long-handled soup ladle next to him.
Pour a spoonful of thick braising sauce on top.
The braising sauce is made with great care. It's based on mutton bone broth, and includes soaked daylily buds, chopped wood ear mushrooms, and finely chopped shiitake mushrooms. Finally, it's thickened with a thin cornstarch slurry.
Of course, some of the ingredients were redeemed by Su Mu from the system.
The brown broth seeped into the white tofu, creating a clear contrast between black and white.
Not finished yet.
Su Mu grabbed a small handful of chopped pickled mustard greens and a few fried peanuts and sprinkled them on top.
Finally, and most crucially, this is the last step.
Garlic water!
There's also a spoonful of bright red chili oil.
"Slurp!"
Li Yuan looked at the bowl of red and white, steaming hot liquid, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Garlic is a good thing.
Su Mu pushed the bowl towards Li Yuan, saying, "It sterilizes and enhances the flavor. This tofu pudding is just a soulless shell without garlic and chili."
Li Yuan threw the fried dough sticks on the table and picked up the bowl.
hot!
But he couldn't care less.
He slurped a big mouthful along the rim of the bowl.
The tofu pudding was so tender that it crumbled with the touch of the tongue, requiring no chewing at all.
Immediately afterwards, the salty and savory flavor of the braising sauce, the spiciness of the garlic water, and the heat of the chili oil exploded in my mouth!
"ha--!"
Li Yuan closed his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and sweat instantly streamed down his forehead. "Perfect! This is what food should be! It's potent!"
He picked up the half-eaten fried dough stick with his chopsticks, pressed it into the bowl, letting the crispy dough stick soak up the braising sauce, and then stuffed it into his mouth.
It's soft and chewy with a hint of crispness, and salty and spicy with a touch of bean flavor.
"That feels so good!"
Li Yuan rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, placed one foot on the crossbar of the stool, and ate with heavy breaths, "This is the right way!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a crisp protest came from the side.
"No stinky garlic allowed!"
Little Sizi gripped the edge of the millstone with both hands, tiptoed, and peered into the wooden bucket. His little face was scrunched up, and his big eyes were warily fixed on the garlic water jar in Su Mu's hand.
"I don't want it spicy! I want it sweet!"
The little girl held her small bowl above her head and tried her best to get closer to Su Mu, saying, "Brother, add some sugar to my bowl! Lots and lots of sugar!"
Su Mu smiled and moved the jar of garlic water a little further away.
He then poured out another bowl of tofu pudding.
No braising liquid was added this time.
He scooped a spoonful of dark red syrup from the earthenware pot next to him.
This is made by simmering brown sugar with ginger slices. The ginger flavor is not strong, which is just right for dispelling cold, and it has a mellow sweetness.
When brown sugar syrup is poured over white tofu pudding, it spreads out instantly, resembling a blooming peony.
Sprinkle on a spoonful of honey-soaked red beans and a few raisins.
Here, yours.
Little Sizi cheered and, not caring about the heat, picked up the bowl and scooped out a large piece with her little spoon.
The tofu pudding is coated in brown sugar syrup, sweet and warm.
The red beans are cooked until soft and mushy, melting in your mouth with a touch.
"Ugh~!"
Little Sizi squinted happily, a ring of brown sugar stains on the corner of her mouth, and her speech became even more lisping, "Good seven!"
Sweet is the best! Grandpa doesn't understand, that smelly stuff is awful!