This was the deliciousness brought by A5 beef. After all, beef of this grade was known as the "Rolls-Royce" of the beef world.
"Mm, not bad. Even after being stored in the backpack for several months, it hasn't changed." Fu Yuan swallowed the thin slice of beef, licked his lips, and began preparing the meat.
Massaging beef could improve its texture and make it taste even better, but fresh A5 beef was already tender enough that it did not need to be massaged.
However, if there were tendons in the beef, they needed to be pounded apart with a meat tenderizer.
If the tendons in the beef were not broken, they would curl up from the heat during cooking. It would not affect the taste, but it would look unattractive.
After washing his hands, Fu Yuan divided the beef into two portions. He then evenly sprinkled them with fine salt and black pepper, rubbed them with butter, and let them marinate briefly.
Finally, Fu Yuan's long, slender fingers began massaging the two pieces of beef, allowing them to absorb the seasonings more thoroughly.
Fu Yuan's fingers moved over the two pieces of beef as though playing a piano. As he massaged the meat, a delicate yet firm sensation traveled through his fingertips, and the pleasant feeling brought a knowing smile to his face.
"The texture of this beef is excellent too. Once it's cooked, it'll definitely make a great dish."
After finishing the massage, Fu Yuan began preheating the steak pan. Then he took other ingredients from his backpack, intending to make a sauce to pour over the steaks.
Onions, tomatoes, cilantro, black pepper... Fu Yuan looked over the ingredients, thought for a moment, then took some plums from his backpack as well.
"Scáthach has little interest in food, so I need to win her over with delicious dishes and make her interested in cuisine!" Holding the ingredients, Fu Yuan wore an expression even more serious than when sparring.
It Smelled So Good, It Really Did! VI
Cooking steak tested a chef's marinating, seasoning, sauce-making, as well as control over heat and timing.
It did not require intricate knife work or tremendous strength to wield a kitchen knife, so it was fairly simple.
Sitting on the courtyard terrace, Scáthach raised her head and looked at the darkened sky. Bright moonlight streamed down, draping the stunning queen in a layer of cool, pale radiance.
Under that chilly moonlight, much of Scáthach's seductive and alluring aura faded away. She now seemed somewhat detached from the world.
After gazing at the night sky for a while, the solitary Scáthach turned her head slightly and looked toward the building behind her.
Scáthach's keen hearing allowed her to catch the sound of a kitchen knife chopping ingredients from behind. She stood up, her round, perky butt leaving the courtyard terrace with her.
Her shapely legs wrapped in black stockings moved forward as Scáthach headed toward the kitchen, where the sounds were coming from.
When she arrived at the kitchen entrance, Scáthach smelled an indescribably rich aroma. It was the delicious scent released by pan-seared steak.
Even Scáthach, whose heart was as still as dead water, could not help but say two words in her heart when she smelled it.
It smells so good!
Scáthach, who had originally been uninterested in cooking, began to feel a faint sense of anticipation after smelling that fragrance.
Sure enough, nothing could escape the "it smells so good" law.
Standing at the kitchen entrance, Scáthach looked at the figure inside.
Fu Yuan stood before the stove in an apron, intently cooking two succulent pieces of A5 beef. Seeing him in an apron and holding a small spatula, Scáthach could not help but smile faintly.
Scáthach had not expected Fu Yuan, who possessed such immense strength, to cook for others. Moreover, he looked quite skilled at cooking.
How should she put it? Scáthach had now seen another side of Fu Yuan.
A powerful warrior, a shy boy, and now a virtuous househusband.
That was what men from the Divine Land were like. If they liked cooking, then women had nothing left to do except wash the dishes!
Focused on cooking, Fu Yuan noticed Scáthach's arrival and gaze. He turned his head slightly toward the doorway, then smiled at the smiling Scáthach.
It was a clean, sunny smile.
"What is it? Couldn't wait any longer?"
"...No." Under Fu Yuan's bright smile, Scáthach averted her gaze and said nonchalantly, "I only came over to see whether you needed any help."
"As the guest, you just need to sit down. I don't need your help, but if you insist, help me set out the plates." Fu Yuan pointed with his spatula toward a cabinet in the kitchen.
"Alright."
Scáthach entered the kitchen and walked toward the cabinet Fu Yuan had pointed out. One was preparing dinner while the other set the table. Fu Yuan and Scáthach now seemed like... newlyweds.
It was so natural and harmonious that it was hard to believe the two had known each other for less than a day.
Fu Yuan checked on the steaks, then poured rich red wine over both portions.
As the red wine was added, the sizzling steaks seemed like bombs being detonated, instantly releasing an entirely different aroma.
As Scáthach arranged the plates, her throat moved slightly. She was... starting to lose her composure.
It smelled so good, it really did!
When frying steak, adding a small spoonful of red wine could balance out the greasiness of the beef.
That was because red wine contained a substance called "tannin," which tasted dry and astringent on its own.
However, when red wine containing tannins was eaten together with steak, it encouraged saliva secreted in the mouth to penetrate the meat, helping cut through the richness.
Conversely, the fats and proteins in the meat could soften the dryness and astringency of the tannins in the red wine, making its rich flavor stand out even more.
That was why red wine and steak had always been a perfect pairing.
"Is it ready?" Scáthach's voice came from behind Fu Yuan. Fu Yuan smiled knowingly. Who was it that had said she was not interested in cooking just now~
"It's ready. Just put them on the plates. Bring the plates over for—" Fu Yuan turned toward Scáthach behind him, but before he could finish, she directly handed him the prepared plates.
"Here."
You really are quick...
Fu Yuan accepted the plates Scáthach handed him and casually said, "Alright, leave the kitchen for now. Leave the rest to me."
"Mm."
Using tongs, Fu Yuan lifted the cooked steaks and placed them onto the plates. He then evenly poured the prepared sauce over the steaming, fragrant steaks.
After the sauce was poured on, the aroma released by the steaks became rich and intense once again.
Inhale~
Fu Yuan took in a breath of the aroma and nodded with slight satisfaction. Finally, he covered the two portions of beef with lids to prevent their fragrance from dissipating.
Outside the kitchen was Fu Yuan's dining room. He carried the two cooked steaks out and sat down with Scáthach in the dining room.
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