boyutpedia Chapter 151 Reminiscence of Tang Dynasty Food
Chapter 151 Reminiscence of Tang Dynasty Food
The sun lazily poured into the bright and warm kitchen of Lin Xiao's home, coating every corner with a soft golden edge. Lin Xiao sat quietly on a wooden chair in the middle of the kitchen, staring intently and passionately at the ancient book about Tang Dynasty cuisine borrowed from the library in front of her. The yellowed pages seemed like a mysterious door to the past, slowly opening to her, leading her thoughts through time and space, returning to the prosperous and dreamlike Tang Dynasty.
Her eyes lingered on a recipe called "Xiao Family Wontons", and the exquisite description seemed to draw a picture of steaming and fragrant food in front of her eyes. In an instant, an irresistible urge surged in her heart, and a strong desire to recreate this ancient delicacy burned in her heart.
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, stood up and tied on the apron embroidered with small flowers neatly, and then walked to the cupboard with determination like a soldier about to go to war. She opened the cupboard door skillfully and began to search through the dazzling array of ingredients. She took the fresh pork out of the refrigerator and put it on the chopping board. With the rhythmic sound of "thump thump", she chopped the pork bit by bit with the kitchen knife in her hand, and the delicate minced meat gradually accumulated under the knife. She carefully chopped the green onion, ginger and garlic into small pieces, mixed them into the minced meat, and stirred vigorously with both hands, trying to let the aroma of various seasonings fully penetrate every strand of meat fiber.
However, when she was about to make wontons, reality gave her a small challenge. Her fingers were a little clumsy, and the wontons she made were all kinds of strange shapes, some like chubby crescents, some like crooked boats, and some even leaked a little stuffing at the seal because of too much stuffing. Lin Xiao looked at her "masterpiece" and couldn't help laughing. In her mind, she couldn't help but think of the figures of the skillful women she saw in the Tang Dynasty, their fingers flying, their movements skillful and elegant, and the wontons they made were all exquisite and beautiful. In comparison, her own skills were really a bit lame.
Next is the key step of cooking, which is an adventure full of unknowns for Lin Xiao. The cooking methods in the Tang Dynasty were relatively simple and primitive, without modern advanced stoves and precise fire control equipment. Lin Xiao tried hard to recall the stoves she had seen in the Tang Dynasty, the burning charcoal, the rising smoke, and the chefs' exquisite control of the fire based on experience and intuition. She tried to imitate that ancient and primitive heating method in a modern kitchen, but the reality was not so easy.
Lin Xiao introduced that the food culture of the Tang Dynasty reached a peak. People at that time paid attention to the selection of ingredients and cooking skills, and pursued a rich and delicate taste. In terms of staple food, there are various exquisite pasta and rice, such as dumplings, wontons, cakes, etc. There are also a wide variety of dishes, including roast lamb, stewed beef, steamed fish and other meat delicacies, as well as rich vegetarian dishes such as vegetables and tofu.
The cuisine of the Tang Dynasty also focused on the use of seasoning and spices. Lin Xiao mentioned that people at that time were good at using various spices to add flavor to food, such as peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, etc. In addition, the Tang Dynasty also had many special sauces and seasonings, such as bean paste and soy sauce, which brought a unique taste to the dishes.
In Lin Xiao's description, the food of the Tang Dynasty was not only delicious, but also beautifully shaped. The chefs at that time paid attention to the color, aroma, taste and shape of the dishes, and made food an artistic enjoyment through clever plating and decoration.
Lin Xiao's introduction to Tang Dynasty cuisine made people feel as if they were traveling through time and space, and felt the prosperity and charm of food culture of that era. His explanation not only gave people a deeper understanding of Tang Dynasty cuisine, but also stimulated people's interest in and desire to explore ancient food culture.
She carefully adjusted the flame of the stove, but the water in the pot was like a naughty child. It either boiled too violently, causing the wontons to roll and collide in the pot, causing the skin to break and the filling to leak out, or the temperature was not high enough, causing the wontons to soak in the water for too long, losing their elasticity and taste. Lin Xiao's forehead gradually oozed fine beads of sweat, and her eyes were filled with anxiety and persistence.
After a lot of hassles, Lin Xiao finally served the cooked wontons to the table. Looking at the plate of wontons that didn't look perfect, she felt very complicated. Some of them had broken, the fillings were scattered in the soup, and the wonton skin was a little soft because it was cooked too long. But the unique aroma still penetrated into her nose, making her heart full of expectation and uneasiness.
She carefully picked up a wonton, blew away the heat on the surface, and then put it in her mouth and chewed it slowly. Instantly, various flavors spread on her tongue. The uneven saltiness of the fillings made her frown slightly, and the texture of the wonton skin was far from what she imagined. But then, Lin Xiao's face bloomed with a satisfied and warm smile. Because in this imperfect taste, she tasted not only the food itself, but also the precious memories hidden deep in her heart.
She sat quietly at the table, her thoughts running wild like a wild horse. She thought of the steaming food stalls in the streets and alleys of the Tang Dynasty. The stall owners always had a warm smile and skillfully made all kinds of delicious food. Wontons rolled in the pot, fried dough sticks sizzled in the oil pan, and candied haws shone with an attractive luster in the sun. The diners passing by were either in a hurry, buying a snack and eating it while walking; or sitting leisurely in front of the stall, savoring the simple but satisfying taste, with a happy look on their faces.
There were also those grand palace banquets, where exquisite dishes were displayed on huge dining tables like works of art. The golden plates and jade cups, the delicacies, were dazzling. Every dish contained endless luxury and refinement. From the selection of ingredients to cooking, from the plating to the serving, it all went through countless tedious processes and careful carving. It was a symbol of power and glory, and also the pinnacle of the food culture of the Tang Dynasty.
"Although this time it was not very successful, I will not give up." Lin Xiao whispered to herself. Her eyes flashed with determination, as if she had seen the moment of success in the future. She believed that as long as she kept trying and exploring, one day she would be able to perfectly restore those intoxicating Tang Dynasty delicacies and once again truly feel the unique charm from the ancient times.
The sunshine outside the window is still bright and warm, like a loyal partner, quietly accompanying Lin Xiao in every exploration and attempt in the kitchen. She cleaned up the table and opened the ancient book again, ready to meet the next food challenge. Because for Lin Xiao, this is not only a pursuit of food, but also a deep embrace of the beautiful memories that spanned a thousand years.