Chapter 378: Three Delicacies Meat Bun
It turned out that fifteen steamed Steamed Dragon Dumplings really weren't enough to eat.
Regretfully glancing at the now empty steamer basket in front of him, still savoring the lingering delicious flavor on his lips and tongue, Tang Qianqiu let out a sigh before shifting his gaze toward the Three Delicacies Meat Buns placed to the side.
The Three Delicacies Meat Buns were much larger than the Steamed Dragon Dumplings from before. A single steamer basket could only hold two of them, each about the size of a fist. Their surface was snowy white and tender, resembling plump little round dumplings, irresistibly pleasing to the eye.
Tang Qianqiu had eaten his fair share of meat buns before.
But these buns in front of him were entirely different in appearance from any he had tasted. They weren't flat and plain-looking, but instead had a round, smooth surface patterned with delicate pleats, more akin to fine pastries.
So even buns can be made this refined?
This was completely different from the image of buns Tang Qianqiu had always held.
Let's give it a try.
His interest was instantly piqued. Since the Steamed Dragon Dumplings earlier hadn't been enough, leaving him only half-full at best, his appetite had already been fully awakened. Without hesitation, he reached out and picked up one of the Three Delicacies Meat Buns, bringing it close to his nose.
For something this big, chopsticks were clearly less convenient than simply holding it in his hand.
Unlike xiaolongbao, these buns were made with leavened dough. Once steamed, the dough transformed into a fluffy, porous, and tender structure, very different from the chewy, unleavened dough used in other types of dumplings.
Leavened dough was soft, with a slightly sweet chew, whereas unleavened dough was firmer and more elastic.
Neither was better or worse—it was simply a matter of their different charms.
Chomp!
The faint aroma of the meat filling seeped through the bun's thin skin and into his nose, and Tang Qianqiu could no longer hold back, biting into it with a large mouthful.
Compared to the best buns he had eaten before, this one's fluffy dough wasn't all that different in texture. What set it apart, however, was how incredibly thin the skin was.
In the Douluo Continent, meat buns usually required at least two bites before reaching the filling; it was nearly impossible to taste the meat with just one.
That was exactly why Tang Qianqiu had bitten down so boldly.
But the moment his teeth sank in, he realized how wrong he was.
The bun in his hand had a skin no more than a centimeter thick—everything else was packed with pure, juicy filling.
As he chewed, the savory juices burst out, mingling with the tender dough to create a mouthfeel that was both rich and exquisite.
The moment his bite broke through the thin outer layer and exposed the filling inside, its aroma rushed out like an unsealed torrent, flooding into his nose while the fragrance in his mouth spread until it seemed to fill his entire senses.
For a moment, Tang Qianqiu felt as though he were completely surrounded by the scent of the Three Delicacies Meat Bun.
However…
As his eyes fell upon the filling now exposed within, his brows lifted ever so slightly.
'What exactly are these "three delicacies"?'
It was no wonder he was puzzled. On the Douluo Continent, meat buns were usually made from pure meat fillings, and even mixing in a bit of vegetables for flavor was considered clever.
But here, besides pork, the filling seemed to contain a variety of other ingredients as well, leaving Tang Qianqiu curious.
'What exactly is inside this?'
And truth be told, that question wasn't only Tang Qianqiu's—back on Earth, it was just as hotly debated.
The more widely accepted explanation was that a Three Delicacies Meat Bun was made from a mixture of pork, eggs, and garland chrysanthemum greens.
But aside from that common combination, there were simply too many flashy variations. Over time, the definition of a Three Delicacies Meat Bun had shifted to mean practically any filling that contained more than three ingredients.
In his previous life, Qi Han had even eaten a so-called Three Delicacies Meat Bun made with pork and shiitake mushrooms…
Why was it called Three Delicacies"?
Because they had stuffed a whole quail egg inside.
Well… to be fair, it actually tasted pretty good.
Of course, the recipe the system provided for the Three Delicacies Meat Bun had been refined and perfected after countless adjustments. In addition to pork, there were no fewer than five supplementary ingredients:
Beaten eggs, water chestnuts, cabbage, carrots, and black fungus.
The latter four were added to give the filling a special range of flavors, making the taste more layered while also providing better nutritional balance.
As for the beaten egg, it was usually poured in after all the other ingredients had been finely chopped and mixed. Doing so gave the filling an extra smoothness and a subtle egg fragrance.
With this method, the resulting Three Delicacies Meat Bun achieved a more diverse taste. The filling was not only delicious but also rich in texture, perfectly complementing the dough to create a state of near perfection.
Even though Tang Qianqiu couldn't identify every single ingredient in the filling, that hardly stopped him from taking another bite.
This time, he slowed his movements, chewing more carefully instead of wolfing it down. The tender dough and juicy filling melded together in his mouth, and once again that rich, savory flavor spread across his senses.
The dough was fluffy, but during the steaming process it had absorbed a thin layer of broth along its inner wall. The porous structure locked in that moisture, giving the normally plain-flavored dough an entirely new dimension of taste.
The parts that hadn't absorbed the broth still retained the soft chewiness of bun dough, but the broth-soaked inner side became almost glutinous and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Those juicy layers released flavor just like the filling itself, bursting slightly with each bite.
This remarkable dough, combined with the six-ingredient three-delicacy filling, created an incredibly rich culinary experience: the tender juiciness of pork chunks, the crisp sweetness of minced water chestnuts, the fragrant freshness of shredded cabbage, the distinctive savoriness of diced carrot, the crunchy springiness of black fungus, and the smooth richness of beaten egg.
Each ingredient's qualities blended seamlessly together during the mixing process, forming a unified whole in both flavor and texture, without the slightest discord.
'What a marvelous meat bun.'
The smile on Tang Qianqiu's face deepened. The surprise this bun brought him was no less than that of the Steamed Dragon Dumplings earlier.
"Ahem." Across from him, Qi Poxiao gave a small cough. "So… how does the Three Delicacies Meat Bun taste?"
"Not bad. I don't know exactly what went into the filling, but the flavor is outstanding," Tang Qianqiu replied with a succinct nod.
"…Then… can I try one?"
"Don't even think about it!" Tang Qianqiu immediately pulled the steamer basket closer to himself. "If you want some, buy your own."
"I just thought… I can't finish both of mine anyway." Qi Poxiao muttered under his breath and sighed. "I am your senior brother, you know. Can't you at least give me a little?"
"Where's your shame? Since when does a junior have to give way to his senior?"
"I'm already getting old, nearly ready for the grave—can't you show me some mercy?"
"You're only a few years older than me!" Tang Qianqiu shot him a disdainful look.
"Fine, fine. I'll go check on my grandnephew Tai Lei. I haven't seen that child in ages, I miss him." Seeing that Tang Qianqiu wasn't budging, Qi Poxiao let out a weary sigh and stood, heading off toward Tai Lei.
Tang Qianqiu: "…"
Forget it. Tai Lei, may the heavens watch over you.
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