LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 421
Animals have different flavors and textures of meat depending on their type and the specific cut.
Even within the same species, variations can clearly arise from their environment, stress levels, slaughtering methods, and diet, and the ingredients used in cooking can also alter the taste.
Traditional Mongolian meat dishes are prepared as they are slaughtered, with a distinctive aroma that reflects their flavor and nutrition.
On the other hand, Jewish dietary laws recommend removing blood through the process of osmosis using salt, and cooking the meat to fully eliminate any trace of blood.
To an extreme, there are those who solely consume raw meat, innards, and fat for health, beliefs, or taste.
And Karem lightly sampled a chunk of unicorn meat as an experiment.
“When cooked, it’s not much different from horse, huh.”
To be safe, he tried cooking it in various ways, but there was little difference from horse meat.
He experimented with different oils in the pan and added various spices to the boiling water, yet the results were still similar to horse meat.
No, it was even tougher. The overcooked horse meat that Zigmeser had insisted he try was tender in comparison.
If anything, the unicorn meat felt like chewing rubber, with no bite to it whatsoever.
He reluctantly decided he would need to exert a bit more effort.
Crisp- Crunch- Crackle-
When he bit into the well-done horse meat, it required more strength and divine power than this.
“It’s a bit numbing, though.”
It sounded less like he was chewing meat and more like he was tearing apart a hard rubber chunk.
“Well, then the only method left is…”
As Karem pondered the best way to enjoy horse meat, he realized one method remained untested.
“…”
Swish-
Karem took a thin, small slice from the fatless part.
Chew-chew-
“…Hmm?”
This was it.
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“So your conclusion is that?”
Catherine questioned Karem in disbelief, glancing at the enormous chunk of meat that sat before him.
“Eating it raw?”
“Do you remember the horse meat we had when I was invited before?”
Of course, she remembered. Compared to the horse meat she had begrudgingly eaten in dire situations after her adventures and retirement, there was a world of difference, leading Catherine to feel slightly betrayed by the world.
Just a little.
“Yeah, we tried it in various ways, didn’t we?”
“Well, since it’s just the two of us, can I be honest? What was the most delicious horse meat dish you had?”
“Well…”
Catherine, who had been waiting at the table for her guests, briefly recalled a memory just before her winter trip.
“It was carpaccio. Now that I think about it, it was truly amazing. I had no idea that horse meat, just a bit less cooked or even entirely raw, could taste so different.”
Thinking back, Catherine felt it was somewhat unfair.
She was certain that others placed in situations where they had no choice but to eat horse meat would share the same sentiment.
“Well, raw meat can sometimes be unsafe due to potential bacteria or parasites. Cooking is definitely the safest approach.”
“Speaking of which, what you’re preparing now is raw meat, huh? Well, calling it a dish seems a bit generous given that it’s not cooked?”
“Carpaccio is still a dish.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Catherine nodded silently.
In the end, cooking is simply food processed for human consumption.
If one day raw food were to be excluded from the realm of cooking, the whole of Japan, with its pride in sashimi and sushi, would surely rebel.
Not just Japan, but Italy, overflowing with pride in its own culinary traditions, would be furious as well. Just try drinking an iced Americano in Italy; it makes no sense.
“So, what dish are you preparing now?”
“Definitely not carpaccio.”
“Just as I thought. Raw…what?”
Catherine tilted her head back, leaning slightly in her chair.
I wonder if there are other ingredients? But nothing particularly stood out.
If anything, apples and eggs were noticeable.
Aside from that, there were various spices, particularly sesame oil.
“…So, are you suggesting we slice the apple, mix it with the egg, and call it a dish?”
“Oh, you’re getting close to the answer.”
“What?”
“To be precise, I’m thinking of just placing the yolk on top.”
Karem, who had been staring at her as if to say something was odd, watched as Catherine considered the situation, before waving her hand dismissively, assuring him there were no issues.
“I suppose there are occasions when a raw yolk is not entirely out of the question for a dish.”
Confirming there was no distinct problem, Karem resumed butchering the unicorn meat.
The method for preparing raw meat is generally divided into three categories:
Chopping up freshly slaughtered meat into chunks, slicing it like sashimi, or finely chopping it into tartare.
Karem didn’t have a strong preference but chose the tartare style this time to accommodate those unaccustomed to raw dishes.
He used the round cut from the hindquarters. Slicing the meat thick like a steak, then diagonally into thin strips.
Considering the amount and size, aside from the repetitive work, it wasn’t particularly difficult.
Moreover, given that unicorn meat came from the wild and was denser than horse meat, it had a firmer texture, making it relatively easy to cut even though it was raw.
“If not, maybe I should freeze it a little first before butchering.”
Still, that was only relative ease; the unique texture and elasticity of raw meat required careful attention.
In tartare, the shape is almost as important as the ingredients.
If the sizes differ, the cooking level also varies, causing the pieces to act independently in the mouth.
While it could be excused due to it being raw meat, unexpected textures can be a deal-breaker in any dish.
“Hmmm…”
With half-closed eyes, Catherine tapped the table lightly.
“I’m getting a rough idea of how you’ll serve it.”
“Really? Without even seeing?”
“Based on the way you sliced it, I think you’ll cut the apple in a similar manner. And given those spices, I suspect you’re thinking of making a sauce to mix it all together?”
Karem tsked his tongue.
“I mean, really, you’re sharp.”
Wrapping the unicorn meat he had sliced so far in a piece of muslin, Karem decided to whip up a sauce.
He only needed seven ingredients in total.
Soy sauce, salt, sugar, chopped garlic, and lemon juice instead of plum extract, along with sesame oil and sesame seeds.
It was particularly important that both sesame oil and sesame seeds be included.
Though they might taste similar, the popping sensation of the sesame seeds that bursts and disappears and the thicker, deeper essence of the sesame oil are distinctly different.
As Karem was about to add sesame oil to the sauce, his hands trembled slightly.
“Gah… I should use it sparingly.”
“But isn’t that it?”
“Eh? What are you talking about?”
Karem who had just closed his eyes while adding sesame oil and sesame seeds, suddenly turned his head quickly.
“About the dish you’re preparing today.”