NOVEL NEXT Chapter 115.2
Let’s Eat Stir-Fried Pork, Cucumber, And Tomato With Ponzu Sauce
Next to Yuuri, who was stir-frying the meat with chopsticks, Magg held a bowl and dumped the cucumber and tomato into the frying pan. The mixture of heated oil and the vegetables’ moisture caused quite the sizzling commotion, but neither of them paid it any mind. Calmly and without a fuss, Yuuri used the chopsticks to evenly mix the noisy contents of the frying pan.
The coolness of the cucumber and tomato briefly lowered the temperature in the pan, but it quickly returned to a simmer. As the pan sizzled and hissed, Magg stared intently at its contents. In Magg’s mind, stir-frying cucumber and tomato was a method he was entirely unfamiliar with. He could faintly imagine tomatoes being cooked, but cucumbers were strictly a raw vegetable in his book. It seemed he was slightly concerned about whether they’d turn out okay.
Even so, Magg’s trust in Yuuri ultimately outweighed his doubts. There was an unshakable belief that anything Yuuri cooked would be delicious. It might sound absurd to some, but it was a shared understanding among the members of the Scarlet Lynx team. And frankly, they weren’t wrong.
“All right, it looks like they’re lightly cooked now. Time to season with ponzu!”
“…”
Magg nodded silently as Yuuri smiled and poured ponzu into the pan—quite generously, in fact, prompting Magg to widen his eyes in astonishment. Yuuri didn’t hold back, pouring it in liberally without hesitation. Unlike soy sauce, where restraint was crucial, ponzu needed a bolder application. Considering the cucumber and tomato would release their own juices, the seasoning could dilute if not adjusted properly. The generous pour was all part of Yuuri’s plan.
As the ponzu began to boil in the pan, Yuuri deftly stirred and shook the pan to ensure the sauce coated the meat, cucumber, and tomato evenly. Occasionally, he flipped the contents with practiced ease, ensuring the flavor soaked in uniformly. Once the ponzu’s color seeped into the ingredients, Yuuri turned off the heat. Using chopsticks, he plated a piece of meat, cucumber, and tomato onto two small dishes, handing one to Magg. It was time for the chefs’ privilege: a taste test.
Magg, looking a mix of curious and cautious, picked up his chopsticks and sampled the contents of his plate. He started with the meat—it was the most familiar element, after all. He already knew pork paired well with ponzu, having enjoyed it in dishes like cold pork shabu. Warm meat with ponzu was within his comfort zone, so he naturally gravitated toward it first.
“…Delicious.”
The rich flavor of the pork, complemented by the refreshing tang of ponzu and the subtle aroma of sesame oil, filled his mouth. The idea of stir-frying with ponzu might have been baffling at first, but the actual taste balanced perfectly. Well, there wasn’t much to overanalyze—it was simply delicious.
Next, Magg turned his attention to the tomato. Warm tomatoes weren’t entirely unfamiliar—think minestrone, tomato sauces, or even baked dishes. Thus, he considered it an acceptable choice for cooking. With this logic, he tried a bite.
To his surprise, the ponzu harmonized beautifully with the tomato, creating a refreshing flavor akin to a salad. The warmth was slightly unusual, but the cooking had softened the tomato just enough to be pleasantly tender, making it quite enjoyable.
“…”
“Magg, why are you glaring at the cucumber?”
“…Warm cucumber… unfamiliar.”
“Oh, it’s your first time trying cooked cucumber? It’s not strange in ponzu stir-fries, and there are other recipes where cucumber is cooked, you know.”
“…?”
“I don’t make them often, but trust me, cucumbers can be cooked.”
“…Understood.”
If Yuuri said so, Magg figured it must be true. He picked up the cucumber cautiously, noting its lightly browned exterior. It appeared softer than raw cucumber, its signature crunch seemingly lost. Magg hesitated briefly before popping it into his mouth—only to be pleasantly surprised.
Though the cucumber appeared wilted, its texture retained a satisfying crunch, and its juiciness remained intact. The ponzu blended with the cucumber’s natural moisture to create a perfect harmony of flavors. It was an unfamiliar but delightful experience.
As Magg quietly and methodically chewed the cucumber, Yuuri, observing his reaction, smiled in relief. Though he had tested the dish himself, the response from others—especially Magg—was always a concern when trying something new. Magg’s attitude spoke volumes; if he didn’t like something, he simply wouldn’t eat it. That Magg was savoring the dish indicated its success.
“This one’s best served warm, so we’ll reheat it in the pan right before eating.”
“Understood.”
“Okay, let’s get started on the rest of dinner prep!”
“Understood.”
Although the main dish was complete, their work as dinner prep team wasn’t done. With sides and soup to prepare, the duo resumed their tasks.
By dinnertime, the ponzu stir-fry—initially met with suspicion—had won everyone over. Pleased with the outcome, Yuuri decided it was worth making again during the lingering summer heat.