Experiment No.1
I moved to the kitchen, quickly taking out an apron from my inventory and putting it on.
"Let's start by using some curry powder."
I took out a jar filled with curry powder and pondered what to make.
Making a regular curry would be easy, but considering the future, it's probably best to avoid that.
If they ask for the curry powder blend and then there's a decrease in the import of the spices (or medicinal herbs) used in it, that would be a problem.
Just imagining how much I'd need to make for a royal banquet is terrifying.
Although I leave the blending of our household’s curry powder to Shin, I remember him grumbling about the total cost of the spices, saying it made his stomach ache.
But once the curry is ready, his worries vanish as he focuses on securing his share, so I’m not too concerned.
Hmm, in that case, I’ll need to make something with a curry flavor... The easiest options would be stir-fried vegetables or fried rice.
I used to make those a lot in my previous life.
But stir-frying vegetables, though seemingly simple, can be tricky.
The ideal is a crisp texture, but if you do it wrong, the vegetables release water, and you end up with something soggy and unappetizing.
The way you cut the vegetables, the heat level, and the timing of adding seasonings are all crucial.
Well, our Head Chef and the Royal cooks should be able to figure it out quickly if I teach them, so it shouldn't be a problem.
… But stir-fried vegetables might seem a bit too common.
Fried rice is something I want to use in another dish.
Curry udon might be delicious, but it’s bound to stain clothes, so that’s out.
… In that case, maybe that dish?
I moved to the cold storage, taking out some Orc meat and Big Horn Bull meat, and asked Kurogane and Byakko-sama to roughly chop the meat to the consistency of ground meat.
Next, I took out some potatoes and onions.
I peeled the potatoes, boiled them in water, and finely chopped the onions.
Once the potatoes were boiled, I drained them in a colander and asked Sei and Mariel-chan to mash them while they were still hot.
I sautéed the meat and onions thoroughly, wiping away the excess fat with a cloth.
I lightly seasoned it with salt and pepper, evaporated the moisture, added the curry powder, stirred until well combined, and then removed it from the heat to cool slightly.
I mixed the mashed potatoes with the sautéed meat and onions, divided the mixture into even portions, and shaped them into small, oval patties.
We did this together, and it was done in no time, amidst lots of chatter.
In a large dish, I placed flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs in order, coating each patty in turn.
Byakko-sama, Mashiro, and Kurogane took charge of this part.
For the final step, I took over.
I heated some lard made from Orc fat in a frying pan (checking the temperature with some leftover breadcrumbs) and carefully fried the croquettes until they were golden brown.
Once they were ready, I lifted them out and let the excess oil drain.
"... Alright, curry croquettes are done! Everyone, give them a try!"
I handed out one croquette to each person, and we were ready for the taste test!
The delicious aroma of curry had been filling the air, so everyone eagerly bit into their croquettes.
Of course, I did too!
With the first bite, the breadcrumbs made a satisfying crunch, while the fluffy potatoes, savory chunks of meat, and sweet, caramelized onions melded together in a burst of flavor.
The distinct curry aroma made its presence known. Mmm, so good!
Regular croquettes are delicious on their own, but adding curry powder gives them a special touch, don’t you think?
Everyone was silently munching away, and by the time they finished, they were in bliss.
"Hahh... Croquettes with a hint of curry are the best! May I have another?"
Mariel-chan requested seconds, but unfortunately, I only made enough for tasting since it was after dinner.
She looked longingly at the empty plate.
Can you please stop using that "delicate beauty" setting only at times like this?
Judging by everyone’s reactions, the curry croquettes seemed to be a hit.
Croquettes originally came from France, and with some stylish presentation, they should work as a courtly dish... right?
"Alright, next! A dish using the makeshift Doubanjiang."
"Huh? Aren’t you going to use the garam masala?"
Mariel-chan asked, as if to say, "Did you forget?"
"Oh, that’s for later."
Garam masala isn’t just for curries. It's something to look forward to.
"If we’re using Doubanjiang, the classic dish would be mapo tofu... but we don’t have any tofu."
In the Doristan Kingdom, we often use rock salt, which makes it hard to get nigari (coagulant for tofu).
I managed to make okara, soy milk, and yuba from beans similar to soybeans, but I haven't been able to make tofu.
I tried solidifying it with agar, but it just wasn’t the same...
They say you can make tofu with salt from seawater that’s rich in minerals, but in Doristan, we don't produce salt from seawater, making sea salt very expensive.
Apparently, it’s produced in Yahatul as well, but it’s a time-consuming process, so exporting it would make it quite costly.
Considering the production cost, it’s not something we can make lightly.
I thought about ordering some nigari, but when I asked Sei, he was like, "What’s nigari?" Even the Bastea Company didn't carry it.
I’m currently trying to see if it can be imported from Yahatul, but it’s proving difficult to obtain.
"Any other dishes using Doubanjiang...?"
What should I make?
What do you think about this chapter?
