NOVEL NEXT Chapter 103.2
Orange Juice For A Refreshing Meat Stew
When the flavor was adjusted and the sauce started to bubble, Yuuri added the seared Big Frog meat. Covering it, he let it simmer while occasionally flipping it to ensure the orange sauce soaked into the meat. Keeping the heat just enough to see gentle bubbles, Yuuri turned his attention to the other dishes.
The meat needed a side and a soup. Since the meat was seasoned with orange juice, the soup was made simple, with a consommé base. He added finely shredded carrots, onions, and cabbage, along with some corn. It felt a little bland, so Yuuri also threw in a small amount of bacon, finely chopped. The bacon was there for flavor, not to add extra ingredients.
“Hmm, what should I do for a side dish? I’m doing bread instead of rice today.”
Yuuri was originally Japanese, so rice was the most comforting staple food. However, this was a bread-eating culture. He didn’t mind bread, so when the menu was Western, it often became bread. Plus, fresh bread was delivered every morning, so it had to be eaten before it spoiled. Wasting food was a no-no.
Then, Yuuri noticed a vibrant pile of cabbage and picked it up. Each head was smaller than usual, about the size of a regular cabbage but in a variety of colors—green, purple, orange, and yellow. It was like paprika in cabbage form! The cabbage was called Labyrinth Cabbage, a dungeon crop.
The cabbage looked so colorful, so Yuuri decided to shred the green, yellow, and orange cabbages and mix them together. A simple cabbage salad. And because it was labyrinth produce, the taste was guaranteed to be good. He tossed the shredded cabbage into a bowl of water and mixed it thoroughly with his hands, making sure it was evenly soaked. Once done, he drained the water.
While doing this, the main dish seemed to be ready. The simmered orange juice had thickened into a sauce, and the meat had taken on a slight orange hue. After removing his portion of meat from the pan, Yuuri sliced it down the middle to check its doneness, then cut a small piece to taste.
“Mmm, it’s tender~”
The flavor that spread in his mouth was similar to chicken thigh, but with far more richness. The orange juice had seasoned it with both sweetness and tang, making it refreshingly smooth yet creamy. At the same time, the meat was soft, thanks to the slow cooking. This was Yuuri’s first attempt at orange stew in this world, and he felt it had turned out pretty well.
After tasting, Yuuri plated the Big Frog meat on a large dish, drizzling the onion-studded orange sauce on top. It still looked a bit plain, so he sprinkled a little parsley powder. Not basil, because basil would overpower the flavor. It was just his personal preference.
He left about a third of the plate empty, where he placed the drained shredded Labyrinth Cabbage. The three-colored cabbage might look odd, but the locals didn’t mind, and it tasted just like regular cabbage, so Yuuri didn’t care either. As long as it was delicious.
Once the main dish was plated, he began preparing the soup, bread, and water to drink. By the time he finished arranging the lunch on the handmade placemats, Ali and Aroru came into the dining room, probably thinking it was about time.
“Wow, right on time.”
“What’s for today?”
“Big Frog orange stew.”
“…Orange?”
“Yeah, orange.”
Yuuri smiled brightly at Aroru, who gave a doubtful look. He didn’t mention, “Because Aroru, you like oranges, right?” which showed he had a good sense of timing. Maybe it was his natural intuition, but despite being a bit of a wild card at times, Yuuri never stepped on a landmine when it mattered. It was a handy ability.
Ali, showing no interest in the exchange, quickly sat down. Yuuri and Aroru followed, and the three of them said, “Itadakimasu!” before starting the meal.
Since Yuuri made the food himself, he knew exactly what it was, and ate without hesitation. Ali didn’t care for the details, so she ate normally. But Aroru, hearing the unusual name orange stew, tilted her head while cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces with her knife and fork.
The Big Frog meat wasn’t tough, but it had a bit of springiness. At just 10 years old, Aroru sometimes found it hard to cut, but today it sliced easily, as if the knife slipped right in. It seemed the meat was softer than usual. Thinking this, Aroru dipped the meat into the orange sauce and took a bite.
As the food neared her mouth, the scent of orange drifted through her nose. It was the refreshing, tangy sweetness typical of citrus. Not only was the scent pleasant, but the taste also spread across her tongue. She had no idea what orange stew would taste like, but all she felt was that it was delicious.
“…Why orange?”
“There was some leftover orange juice in the fridge.”
“You cooked it with juice?”
“Yeah. Cooking it with orange juice makes it tangy yet smooth, and it makes the meat soft.”
“Wow…”
Aroru mumbled to herself, taking another bite of the shredded Labyrinth Cabbage as she returned to the meat. Occasionally, she mixed some cabbage into the orange sauce before taking another bite. It seemed she liked it.
“So, how’s the taste?”
“Delicious.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
Yuuri smiled brightly at Aroru’s answer. She always had a grown-up expression, but now she looked like a 10-year-old who had just found a new favorite dish. It made Yuuri happy to see someone enjoy the food he made.
As a side note, Ali had told Yuuri, “Make this for Brook; I think he’ll like it,” and when Yuuri later served the same dish to Brook, the stoic swordsman somehow became a fan of the orange stew. Why? Who knew?