OBS Chapter 327 Sour Fish Soup
Chapter 327 Sour Fish Soup
Having bid farewell to the gentle waves of the Li River and the tangy, spicy, and savory flavors of Guilin rice noodles, the "Food Express" RV plunged into the mountainous landscape of Guizhou along the highway.
The scenery outside the window gradually transitions from the beauty of karst to the majestic blend of karst and plateau mountains.
The tunnel connects to the viaduct, making it feel like walking through a huge green maze.
The air became cooler and more humid, carrying the unique fragrance of mountain forests and vegetation.
"Wow! These mountains are so high! It feels like we're driving right up into the clouds!" Xiao Zhi exclaimed, his face almost pressed against the car window as he looked at the towering, cloud-shrouded peaks outside.
Little Leyi imitated her brother, pointing outside with her little finger: "Gao Gao! Yun Yun!"
Aunt Ping opened her "culinary bible" again and excitedly announced: "Comrades! We are about to enter another peak in the culinary world - Guizhou!"
First stop: Kaili Sour Fish Soup!
It is said that the sour soup is made from fermented rice water, sour, fresh and appetizing, paired with live fish from the river, tsk tsk tsk..." She sniffed with delight, as if she could already smell the sour aroma.
Looking at the steep mountains outside the window, Yuan's mother said with some worry, "This road looks quite dangerous. Baoguo, drive slowly and be careful."
"Mom, don't worry, it's going smoothly." Bao Guo, in the driver's seat, was fully focused, his broad hands firmly gripping the steering wheel. "This road is dangerous, but it's well-maintained. Let's drive slowly, safety first, food second!" he added with a smile.
My aunt looked at the Miao stilted houses that were faintly visible in the distant mountain valley, full of anticipation: "I heard that the ethnic minority culture in Kaili is very strong. Maybe we can even see beautiful silver ornaments and embroidery."
Yuan Bao sat in the passenger seat, seemingly admiring the scenery, but in reality, her fingers were gently combing the thick "panda fur" of Xiao 9, who was lying on her lap pretending to be asleep.
Little 9's ears twitched almost imperceptibly, and a clear stream of information flowed into Yuan Bao's consciousness:
My lord, we have entered the territory of Qiandongnan Prefecture.
We are approaching Kaili City, approximately 80 kilometers ahead. Weather monitoring: There is a 75% probability of short-term heavy rainfall in two hours. We recommend planning your shelter and dining options in advance.
Three of the best-rated sour fish soup restaurants in Kaili city have been selected. Among them, the main store of 'Lianghuanzhai' (Youzhuang Road, Kaili City) combines authentic local flavor with ethnic performances, has convenient parking, and its sour soup fermentation bacteria activity test is the best, with a flavor substance richness rating of S.
Meanwhile, a large indoor parking lot was detected behind it, providing shelter from the rain.
Yuan Bao turned to his family and said, "Pingping, isn't the most famous sour fish soup restaurant in Kaili called 'Lianghuanzhai'? I heard it's on Youzhuang Road, and it has a great reputation. They also have performances to watch."
"Yes, yes, yes! It's Lianghuan Village! It's also the top recommendation in my travel guide!" Aunt Ping slapped her thigh. "Sister Bao, you're so good at researching! Brother Baoguo, target 'Lianghuan Village'!"
Just as Xiao 9 had predicted, shortly after the "Food Express" entered Kaili city, the originally clear sky was quickly covered by leaden-gray clouds, and large raindrops pounded on the roof of the vehicle.
Following the precise navigation provided by Xiao 9 (via Yuan Bao), Bao Guo steadily drove the RV into the spacious indoor parking lot behind "Lianghuanzhai".
As soon as the group got off the bus, they were attracted by the distinctive ethnic gate of "Lianghuan Village".
The huge ox horn totem, the brightly colored Miao ethnic paintings, and the welcoming girls in their finest attire instantly transport visitors into the rich Miao and Dong culture.
The store was bustling with activity, filled with the unique, indescribable aroma of fermented grains, which whetted everyone's appetite.
Guided by waiters dressed in exquisite Miao ethnic costumes, they sat down in a booth with a good view on the second floor.
Looking around, the wooden structure, the hanging batik fabrics, and the exquisite silver ornaments all exude a strong ethnic flavor.
On the small stage in the center, several Miao girls were dancing gracefully to the melodious tune of the lusheng (a traditional Miao reed pipe instrument), their silver ornaments jingling.
"So beautiful!" Little Leyi's eyes widened as she pointed at the older sisters on the stage.
The responsibility of ordering food naturally fell to Aunt Ping.
"Sour fish soup! It has to be the signature red sour soup! The fish must be catfish, freshly killed and cooked! As for the side dishes... tofu balls, potato slices, greens, Miao-style cured meat... I want them all!" She ordered with great enthusiasm, and didn't forget to order a bowl of sweet rice wine dumplings for Le Yi.
Soon, the main attraction appeared—an old-fashioned clay pot was brought to the table, with a small charcoal fire burning underneath.
The dark red broth simmers in the pot, releasing a rich, mellow, and uniquely sour aroma with a fermented scent, garnished with bright red tomatoes, emerald green cilantro, golden ginger slices, and a few emerald green Litsea cubeba (mountain pepper).
Large chunks of snow-white catfish meat are soaked in red soup, trembling slightly as they boil, making them incredibly tempting.
"This sour smell...it's so unique, it makes my mouth water!" my aunt exclaimed.
"Open the pot! Add the ingredients!" At Bao Guo's command, Aunt Ping eagerly poured tofu balls, potato slices, and other side dishes into the boiling sour soup.
Yuan Bao picked up a piece of fish, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.
The fish is incredibly tender, melting in your mouth, while the red sour soup instantly conquers your taste buds—it's not just simple vinegar, but a complex sour aroma brought about by the deep fermentation of rice water. It's mellow, lingering, with a slight sweetness from grain fermentation and a hint of wine. It's so sour it whets the appetite and so fresh it makes your eyebrows fall off. The unique fragrance of Litsea cubeba (with a slight mixed aroma of lemon and ginger) is the finishing touch, elevating the overall flavor to a whole new level.
She glanced subconsciously at Xiao 9, who was quietly crouching under the table next to the chair.
【My lady, the fermentation of the sour soup is perfect, the microbial community is active, and it produces a large amount of lactic acid and flavor amino acids.】
The essential oil from Litsea cubeba is fully released and combines with fish protein to effectively remove fishy smell and enhance aroma.
The soup temperature remains constant, and the fish is cooked to perfection with 99.5% accuracy. — Xiao 9's "Real-time Food Report" arrives as scheduled.
"Wow! This is so sour! So refreshing!" Aunt Ping was jolted by the sourness, but couldn't resist scooping up another big spoonful of soup. "It's so sour and fresh, with a unique aroma, it's amazing! And the fish is so tender!"
Xiao Zhi grimaced from the sourness, but couldn't stop eating: "Mom, this soup with rice is sure to be delicious!" Bao Guo, on the other hand, scooped up the soup and drank it straight away: "So satisfying! This sour soup makes me feel so comfortable!"
Aunt Yuan carefully tasted a sip of the soup and nodded: "The sourness comes from natural fermentation; it's very mellow and not pungent."
My aunt has a special fondness for tofu balls: "They're soaked in sour soup and still tender inside, so delicious."
Xiao Leyi's rice wine dumplings also arrived; they were sweet and chewy, and she ate them with great satisfaction.
Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, she tried to imitate them by using a spoon to scoop up the sour fish soup from her father's bowl. As a result, her little face scrunched up from the sourness, which made everyone burst into laughter.