Chapter 47

The leaves of the plant called Yatsude literally resemble an eight-handed shape, like a hand with eight fingers extended.

That's it. The leaves are like the fans that long-nosed tengu and such hold. It's exactly like that. They are also known as tengu feather fans.

The seaweed I bought before looked exactly like Yatsude.

While Yatsude leaves are not edible, they look just like kelp in terms of color and texture.

"......Hmm......Well, it does have umami, doesn't it?"

The umami component in kelp...isn't it glutamic acid? When I lick the surface sprinkled with salt, I can faintly taste that umami.

Umami is the foundation of Japanese cuisine. Perhaps this could expand my repertoire.

However, there are some concerns.

"What does it mean that it tastes like meat when cooked after soaking in water... The sales pitch is scary."

I can't really understand how kelp can taste like meat. Is it like a steak made from soybeans?

No, no, what kind of components make it taste like meat? Thinking about it, I start to worry that it won't produce the expected broth when cooked.

But since I bought it, I might as well try it first.

"Whether I soak it in water or heat it to extract the broth, it's the same. Let's try both, extracting the broth and making kelp steak."

I filled a small pot with water and added the Yatsude kelp (tentative name).

I started heating it from the water.

This is the outdoor kitchen where I previously made crab soup. Today, I'm alone, but I'll try some creative cooking.

I want to recreate the taste of my hometown quietly and richly by myself.

"......Remove it before it boils. Well, it's soft, but......it's not meat."

Following the same method as extracting broth from kelp in my previous life, I tried removing it before it boiled.

The Yatsude kelp had softened, but it wasn't meat. However, it had a somewhat nostalgic smell, a seaweed-like briny scent and a smell that suggested umami.

The kelp steak is not really important to me. The important thing is the broth.

So, I'll try a taste right away.

"Hmm, it's kelp......right? A bit different......? The flavor is different, but I can feel the umami......"

When I took a sip, it was a bit different from kelp, but I think it has umami.

However, it's definitely not meat. I don't think it will taste like steak even if I reduce it.

"......Reduce the broth and add some salt......"

I got a general idea. I can make something very similar to kelp broth... I don't think I'm wrong. I got a good thing here.

As a bonus, I'll try the kelp steak too.

I put the Yatsude kelp, which I had taken out of the hot water, into a frying pan with oil and started frying it.

The frying pan is made from a small shield, so the bottom is round, but it's good enough if it works.

The oil sizzled under the moisture-rich kelp.

The kelp slowly moved, shrinking and curling.

Since it's thinner than meat, I flipped it over early. As expected, one side was already nicely cooked. ...No, really, does it taste like meat? Did I get some random information from the market guy?

I continued cooking with some doubt.

Adding more oil and flipping it frequently...

I had a faint hope that more heating would bring out a meaty smell, but I took it off the heat before it burned.

The result was Yatsude kelp with a sear. Even though I didn't make any mistakes in the cooking, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had failed from the start.

"Well, I'll try eating it......"

I made it myself, but I'm not really in the mood...

But I'll eat it. Munch munch.

......Hmm......?

"Meat......maybe......? No, it's seaweed......?"

When I tasted it, it was indeed different from kelp......but......

But it's definitely not meat. It tasted as expected, which was not what I had hoped for.

"No, wait, maybe it was wrong to extract the broth. Let's try soaking it in water and cooking it."

I heated it to extract the broth, but if that caused the umami to escape, this result is understandable.

Assuming that, I started soaking new Yatsude kelp in water. This time, I only softened it without heating.

When the water had soaked in and it had softened, I tried frying it in oil again.

Sizzle, sizzle, pop. ...This time, it seemed to have a better smell than before, or maybe not...

"Hey, Mongrel, what's that? Are you cooking something?"

"Huh? Oh, it's Balgar. I'm just trying out a mysterious ingredient I found at the market before. What about you? Making smoked meat?"

"Yeah. Just taking it easy today."

While I was frying, Balgar, who was passing by, called out to me.

It seems he was making smoked meat at the other stove. For a party or for himself. He was making a considerable amount.

Smoked meat is great. I love smoked cheese in this world too.

"......What's that? A leaf?"

"It's seaweed. I don't know the name."

"You're cooking an ingredient you don't even know the name of?"

"I forgot to ask. I plan to ask someone from the Federation next time."

Here, I'll flip it!

...Hmm, it's darker than the previous Yatsude kelp and I'm not sure if the heat is right...

"Do you cook seaweed like this?"

"I'm trying it for the first time. The old man at the market said it tastes like meat."

"Wow, that sounds interesting. I'm making some smoked meat, so can I have a taste?"

"Sure, but I don't know if it's good. Do you want some smoked meat?"

"Guild members need to be adventurous!"

I'm being cautious, but... Is it ready? Balgar, can you cut this on the iron plate?

"Sure. ...What's this, a buckler?"

"It's just a cooking tool with a handle. Isn't it good?"

"Hmm, as a fellow small shield user, I'm conflicted..."

Balgar started cutting the Yatsude kelp on the shield's concave surface.

With a few swift cuts, eight pieces that somewhat resembled bacon were created.

Well, it's not bacon, but...

"I'll take one piece."

"Sure. I'll have a bite too..."

Time to eat. Munch...

...Hmm?

"It's not meat, but......"

"It might have a meat-like feel......?"

When I tasted it, it seemed to have a meat-like texture due to the frying, the sear, or the umami.

It had a meat-like texture close to bacon.

However, it's not meat. It's more like a meat substitute or a meat imitation.

The texture is completely different.

But surprisingly, it has a meat-like feel. It's a strange taste.

Well, it is strange.

"Hmm, wouldn't it be better to eat real meat if you're going to eat this?"

"Balgar, you think so too. I think so too."

From a position where I can usually eat meat, it's undeniable that there's no need to eat this.

It's more of an interesting ingredient or something for people who can't eat meat.

"What's missing? Oh, Mongrel, try using animal fat when you fry it."

"Using that would make it meat, wouldn't it? Isn't that a bit cheating?"

"Try it. I have some animal fat."

"Sure, I'll try. The texture probably won't change much, though."

I added the animal fat to the frying pan and reheated the remaining Yatsude.

Yeah, when I fry it like this, the smell is completely meat. Of course, it's because I'm using animal fat.

When I tasted the result... Indeed, it's like bacon!

"No, this is still cheating, Balgar. Using animal fat will make it meat-like."

"Ha ha ha, it tastes exactly like wild boar. But isn't this better?"

"Well, it is. ...Oh, let's try the spices I bought with this. It might make it more meat-like."

"Wow! Mongrel, did you buy that too? Is your money okay?"

"No, I've been pretty broke recently."

"You're really a fool when it comes to shopping."

"I'm making smart purchases, I swear!"

After that, we tried adding some meat spices to the Yatsude kelp steak to improve its quality and tested various playful cooking methods.

Creative cooking is fun in this way.

I might have surpassed the Federation in terms of cooking techniques for this Yatsude kelp.

In the end, we concluded that the best way to eat it was with the smoked meat and spices that Balgar brought.

What a joke.