Different from the previous grilled chicken skewers, most of the new products this time are made from plump pork belly.
Wrapped with strips of farmhouse cheese and plenty of wild chives, they are grilled to a crispy fragrance. The pungency and sweetness of the chive leaves blend with the strong milk aroma. When chewed while still hot, each bite can pull out long strings, and the thin slices of meat seem to become even more mellow.
Only the softest tender leaves of the green vegetables are left and thickly rolled into the pork belly. Then a savory barbecue sauce is brushed on. Although it is the simplest flavor, it is extremely refreshing. Dipping it in some sesame salt and cumin seeds brings the most satisfying enjoyment.
The crispy bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and small green peppers sandwiched in the meat rolls come in a wide variety. After being grilled over charcoal, different vegetables absorb the meat juice and have different flavors. Moreover, Li Ying carefully matched the colors. The red and green combination is extremely pleasing to the eye. These dainty meat skewers really whet people's appetites.
A layer of minced shrimp paste is pasted on the pork slices, and then a layer of toasted seaweed is spread on top. After tightly rolling it up, slicing it, and baking it until cooked, it forms a texture like the annual rings of a tree branch. Every bite of this shrimp paste and pork roll offers the springiness of fresh shrimp, the fragrance of seaweed, and the tenderness of pork. It's like tasting the delicacies of the land and sea in one mouthful.
There are also scallops newly delivered from the fishing village. Each one is as plump as a fine piece of white jade. Wrapped in pork slices and brushed with a layer of beef tallow, they are grilled until crispy on the outside, while the scallops still remain soft and juicy. The pork and scallop skewers have a truly wonderful taste that makes people marvel.
The minced meat is made into chewy meatballs and stuffed between two slices of lotus root or two slices of eggplant.
The lotus root slices are crispy, and the eggplant melts in the mouth. Absorbing the fat fragrance of the pork belly and paired with the sweet barbecue sauce, even children can enjoy them to their hearts' content.
Granny Sun stared at what Li Ying had prepared in disbelief and stammered, "A Ying... Are you... going to change your business so soon?"
Li Ying smiled and said, "It's hard to satisfy everyone's taste. The taste buds of diners change from time to time. The noble people in the capital are never short of rare delicacies. If we still rely on one signature dish like we did in the fishing village, I'm afraid this business will have to close down in a few days."
Since the day when the grilled chicken skewers became extremely popular, she had already secretly planned for the next innovation. Even if Li Yun hadn't caused any trouble, these novel grilled pork skewers would still be introduced.
As long as she kept launching new products, even if others wanted to imitate her, they could only pick up the leftovers behind her. An imitator could never surpass the original.
Only then did Granny Sun finally feel relieved. She helped Li Ying skewer some various chicken offal that had always sold well. The boneless cold chicken feet were still unique in the capital, so they had to prepare another basin of them.
She also introduced several new types of chicken skewers. After all, her business started from scratch in the fishing village, so the dishes should naturally have some fishing village characteristics.
Shopkeeper Wu kept his promise. He really ordered his caravan to meet the horse caravan, and all kinds of seafood were successfully delivered to Li Ying. Because winter was approaching, these fish and shrimp were even fresher than usual.
Li Ying peeled the palm-sized sea shrimps, wrapped them in a layer of perilla leaves, and then wrapped them with chicken skin. After baking them until golden and crispy, she sprinkled a layer of ground perilla seed powder on them. This perilla shrimp skewer was a novel delicacy that could only be tasted at her stall. Even if others wanted to steal the recipe, they had no way to do it.
Some fresh fish roe was marinated with pepper and then mixed into the homemade mayonnaise to be used as a sauce. It was thickly brushed on zucchini and grilled. The zucchini was sweet, and the fish roe sauce was smooth and delicate, like rich seafood cream, leaving a fragrant aftertaste in one's mouth.
After she had prepared everything, she calmly left home. Sure enough, as Granny Sun had said, in just one or two days, many barbecue stalls had sprung up on the long street like mushrooms after a rain. All kinds of meat skewers she had introduced a few days ago were available there.
Many stall owners knew that their food didn't taste as amazing as hers, so they simply set the prices a bit lower than hers. Sure enough, they attracted many diners, who left her long - queued stall and went to other stalls instead.
Li Ying was not in a hurry. She didn't even shout. She just slowly laid out all kinds of prepared pork skewers. The rich aroma of the sauce and fat filled the air and immediately stood out on this smoky long street.
"Boss Li, what new delicacies have you made this time?"
A curious customer came forward to take a look. Li Ying greeted him with a smiling face and then introduced them one by one like a treasure - hunter.
"This is the pork and shrimp paste roll, that is the wild chive and cheese stick, and there are also green pepper and meatball skewers..."
This customer was dazzled by the variety of meat skewers and couldn't make a decision for a moment. Li Ying was not impatient. She just waited with a smile.
Suddenly, a somewhat hoarse but full - toned old voice came from the side.
"Give me one of each kind of today's meat skewers!"
Li Ying looked up. The owner of this voice had white hair and beard. He seemed to be about the same age as Yan Lianzhi. He was wearing a purple brocade robe with a dark pattern. In his speech, there was an imposing manner without showing anger.
She speculated in her heart that this person must be either rich or noble, probably a high - ranking official in the court. She just didn't know what kind of relationship he had with that Inspector Lin, whether he was an enemy or a friend.
Li Ying remained calm and pretended not to notice this person's prominent status. She greeted him with a charming smile, "Sure thing. Thank you for your patronage, sir. Please be patient and have a cup of warm wine to warm yourself up. The grilled meat will be served for you right away!"
She served him carefully. Although this purple - robed man was getting on in years, he had a good appetite. He devoured all kinds of grilled skewers she served one by one and kept praising, "Not bad. It's really delicious!"
Li Ying bowed slightly and said with a smile, "I'm glad you like it, sir."
After eating and drinking to his heart's content, this purple - robed man finally stroked his round belly and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Boss, bill please!"
Before Li Ying could answer, he reached into his bosom to look for his money bag. However, after rummaging around for a while with a rather strange expression, a look of embarrassment like the color of pig liver slowly crept onto his old face, which was already flushed with the smell of alcohol.
"Hey, sir, don't tell me you're here to make trouble? You ate heartily when ordering, but now you can't even take out the silver?"
"Boss Li runs a small business. She can't afford to be played around like this by you!"
"If you can't take out the silver, send him to the official! Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, there's no room for such swindlers who eat without paying!"
Most of the customers sitting at Li Ying's stall were regulars who were familiar with her. Seeing that this purple - robed man was obviously short of money, they were all indignant and spoke up for her.
The purple - robed man looked embarrassed, and his face turned even redder. He couldn't say a word. After a long while, he just blew his beard and glared, then tore off a jade pendant from his waist and slapped it on Li Ying's cart.
"Here you are. This jade is enough to cover the meal!"