Crackle! Crackle!
As the temperature gradually rose, sounds came from inside the clay pot.
At the same time, the rich aroma of pork dumplings began to seep out from the pot, slowly spreading around the Tavern, eventually filling the entire place.
"Frying?"
"Roasting?"
"Braising?"
"Could it be that these are fire dumplings instead of boiled dumplings?"
Leonora, snapping out of her shock, murmured in disbelief.
"Mom, what are fire dumplings?" asked Alice, who was still confused about traditional cooking methods.
"Fire dumplings are a type of dumpling dish from Nantong, Jiangsu in China. Unlike boiled dumplings, fire dumplings are deep-fried. So Zane wasn't making pan-fried dumplings after all!"
"But it's strange. Typically, fire dumplings are made with freshly boiled water."
"And when frying, they use medium-high heat."
"But the method Zane is using—placing them on a bamboo rack inside a clay pot and heating them—is something I've never seen before."
"No!"
"I've never seen this method in my life."
Erina, giving Alice a "what an idiot" look, answered the question before Leonora could.
"Indeed, the filling for fire dumplings is made with fresh pork."
"Maybe the unique shape and heating method made me mistakenly think they were pan-fried dumplings."
Leonora nodded.
"Really? Dumplings can be boiled or fried?"
Alice was bewildered.
...
In the culinary world of China, Nantong fire dumplings are a sparkling gem.
Many only know about Yangzhou and Huai'an as world-famous culinary cities that form Huaiyang cuisine.
But actually, Jiangsu has another city that was once as renowned as Yangzhou, full of delicious food, yet often overlooked:
Nantong!
Benefiting from the bounty of rivers and seas, this place offers a variety of seafood and seasonal delicacies all year round.
Nantong residents, thanks to their geographical advantage, have developed unique flavors in their daily lives.
Among the many local dishes, fire dumplings stand out with their unique aroma and Huaiyang cuisine characteristics, always capturing the attention of diners.
...
Time passed slowly.
When the moment was right, Zane extinguished the charcoal fire beneath the grill, letting the residual heat continue cooking the dumplings.
Once the pot's temperature cooled slightly, he used long chopsticks to carefully remove the fire dumplings, placing them on elegant ceramic plates.
"Here are your fire dumplings," Zane said, placing the dishes before Leonora and Alice.
The dumplings really did look like flames, and they were different from ordinary dumplings in many ways.
"They don't seem cooked!"
"Is it because of the braising method?"
"No, I remember hearing a sizzling sound from that…whatever that tool was, so…"
Seeing the dumplings, white and not crispy, Alice was puzzled.
Whether fire dumplings or pan-fried dumplings, she thought the outer shell should be crispy.
"Don't worry, the dish isn't finished yet."
Zane smiled and turned to fetch a culinary torch.
...
He adjusted the torch to its highest flame, then gently pulled the trigger.
Immediately, a flame over half a meter long engulfed the dumplings.
The brilliant firelight and the sizzling sound as the dumplings were directly burned made everyone realize:
Dumplings can't breathe fire, but they can be consumed by flames.
The intense flame quickly subsided, leaving the dumpling skins a crisp, golden brown.
Now the real fire dumplings were complete, and they were finally revealed to Leonora, Alice, and all the other diners.
"Amazing!"
"I didn't expect them to turn into actual fire dumplings."
Without even tasting them, Leonora was already amazed by the dish.
And Alice, with her mouth wide open in surprise, could fit an egg inside!
...
Sizzle!
After being directly heated by the flame, the thick, special sauce began to seep out from the cracks in the fire dumplings.
As it met the crispy dumpling skin, it made a delightful sound.
Hmm.
So tempting!
"Using a culinary torch was a last resort."
"The most impressive part of this dish is using direct fire to burn the dumplings."
"Usually, this would be done with street performers, using a lit stick and mouthful of strong alcohol to create a fire-breathing effect."
"This method is far more impressive than using a torch."
"But it's not safe, and as a chef, I can't drink strong alcohol."
As Zane explained, the dumplings, now double their original size, left Leonora and Alice in awe.
"Wow, dumplings can be so impressive."
"I'm at a loss for words!"
Recovering slightly, Alice was thrilled, barely able to speak coherently.
...
Everyone knows dumplings have four main components: wrapper, filling, cooking method, and dipping sauce.
For any dumpling to be considered delicious, it should have a chewy, translucent wrapper; non-smelly, aromatic filling; and juicy, flavorful meat.
The dipping sauce should be mild yet rich!
Viewed from these angles, Zane's fire dumplings are not overly dry from frying but lack the greasiness of deep-frying.
The flame-shaped dumplings, still slightly oily, had a color gradient from light yellow on top to slightly charred at the bottom.
Under the soft light, they truly looked like "flames," perfectly described as:
Adorable!
...
"Every step of this dish is beyond expectation."
"It's the first time I've seen anything like it."
Leonora was stunned by the flame-shaped dumplings.
As a foreigner, she rarely encountered Chinese dumplings. But as the head of Nakiri International Research, she understood much more than Alice.
This dish made her realize:
There are no worthless ingredients or dishes, only worthless chefs!
The unique aroma of fire-roasted dumplings made her want to dive in immediately.
Unable to resist, Leonora picked up chopsticks and eagerly bit into a dumpling under Zane's watchful eye.
...
Crunch!
With just one bite, the crispy, slightly sweet shell shattered in her mouth.
Following it was the savory, slightly salty sauce and juicy filling.
Immediately, each taste bud felt like a bird chirping in delight.
"Huh?"
"This…"
Leonora quickly realized something and continued to chew.
Sweet, salty, crispy, fragrant—all these flavors and textures danced in her mouth.
A slight numbness rose from the root of her tongue, giving her an unprecedented taste experience!
"From ingredient selection to dough and filling techniques."
"It's similar to regular dumplings."
"Using regular methods wouldn't be surprising, but this dish has a secret I almost missed."
Swallowing, Leonora's thoughts swirled as she glanced at Zane.
His cooking always amazed her, easily overturning her culinary beliefs.
"Mom, what's the secret?"
"I don't see any difference from regular dumplings."
"But the taste… ah… it's incredible!"
Alice, her mouth covered in grease, was also amazed. She grabbed another dumpling, stuffing it into her mouth.
"Alice, do you know why that traditional Chinese clay pot was used?"
"Clay pot? That strange tool?"
Alice shook her head, indicating she had no idea.
"The clay pot has better airtightness, preserving the food's fresh taste."
"The material is perfect for slow and low-heat cooking, requiring precise temperature control."
"The pot's curved shape creates circulation inside, retaining heat."
"You may not understand, but never underestimate anything that seems simple. It often plays a crucial role!"
...
"I get it."
"Everything has its value!"
Alice, deep in thought after her mother's words, realized:
In the original story, her ignorance of common things led to her defeat in the fall selection.
Since the residential training, she had worked hard to improve her cooking, recognizing her lack of knowledge.
"Using boiling water to make the dough creates different textures."
"Regular dumplings use cold water dough, but fire dumplings use hot water dough, allowing frying and baking for unique flavors."
Eating the fire dumplings, Leonora felt like explaining further.
"Using boiling water isn't revolutionary."
Zane smiled.
"I know, it's not groundbreaking."
"But this dish has secrets I need to discover. I must eat more."
Leonora picked up another dumpling, eager to uncover more secrets.
Honestly, if not for her noble image, she would have devoured them all.
With each bite, the meat filling revealed flavors she had never tasted.
Compared to beef or shrimp, the pork filling was surprisingly tender, almost melting on her tongue.
...
Slowly, she entered a dreamlike state.
On a green meadow, Leonora, crowned and armored, sat atop a white horse, sword in hand, exuding nobility.
Opposite her, riding a "pig," was Zane, holding a spear and looking crazed. The pig, with nostrils spewing flames, appeared fierce.
"Charge!"
Leonora raised her sword and charged.
Unexpectedly, Zane, on his pig, rushed forward, striking her with his spear!
"Ah!"
"What's happening?"
"Was I just gored by Zane's pig?"
Startled awake, Leonora murmured in shock.