The next dish on the menu was deep-fried loach.
Si Jiuyue asked Cui Yurong to help slice the scallions, ginger, and garlic. With a few deft movements, Cui Yurong finished the task and placed the ingredients into a basket that Jiaohong and the others had woven just the day before.
Once the aromatics were prepared, Si Jiuyue added pepper to the basket, sprinkled it well, and poured in half a bowl of water. She then used her hands to firmly squeeze the mixture, extracting the juices from the scallions, ginger, and garlic. This infused water was used to soak the cleaned loach, a highly effective method for removing any muddy or fishy odor.
Chapter 445