Her Food Livestream Broke the Galaxy

Chapter 210: Tomato Fish Balls

Since both were fish ball soups, people were bound to ask why she was making two different kinds—

As Jiang Qiuqiu prepared the tomatoes, she explained the difference in texture between the two types of fish balls.

Fish balls are made from freshwater fish. After removing any fishiness, the meat is formed into balls. Tapioca starch is added to improve the texture, making them incredibly savory with a springy, smooth mouthfeel when you bite into them.

"When making a simple fish ball soup, you don’t add too many seasonings. The high heat brings out the peak umami flavor. Just add a pinch of salt to taste, drop in a handful of leafy greens, and this refreshing soup is ready."

"The tomato fish ball soup I’m making now has more ingredients than the simple fish ball soup. The broth is still aromatic and rich, but on top of the savory base, there’s a tartness that spreads up from the tip of your tongue. The sweet savoriness of the fish balls and the fruity acidity of the tomatoes mingle to create... a completely different flavor profile."

As she spoke, she poured boiling water over the tomatoes in a bowl. The skins, now blanched, peeled off with ease, revealing the red flesh underneath.

Jiang Qiuqiu placed the tomatoes on a cutting board. Her knife was a blur as it rose and fell, and soon, the round tomatoes were neatly diced. In addition to the tomatoes, she also chopped up a few carrots, some corn, shiitake mushrooms, and a few other aromatics.

[Ah, she hasn’t even started cooking them and I can already smell a hint of sourness...]

"That’s their natural aroma."

With the ingredients prepped, Jiang Qiuqiu lit the stove. A splash of amber oil hit the wok, followed by sliced scallions and garlic. Once they were fragrant, she added the diced tomatoes.

At first, the tomatoes held their shape as cubes, but under the high heat, they quickly began to soften and break down. As she stirred, their juices slowly seeped out, and the tumbling pieces of tomato released an orange-hued liquid.

While the wok was still hot, Jiang Qiuqiu tossed in the other ingredients. Soon, the mixture began to bubble vigorously over the flame, and the tangy aroma grew even more intense!

Unlike the aggressive tang of fish with pickled greens, the flavor of the tomato was more refined, yet it was anything but bland.

[That color looks so tempting!]

[Why do I have a feeling a Nutrient Liquid with this flavor would be amazing...]

As the soup thickened, Jiang Qiuqiu poured in some water, then added the fish balls she had set aside earlier.

The dense fish balls immediately sank to the bottom. Jiang Qiuqiu covered the wok with a lid, and the camera bot’s final shot was a close-up of the white balls settling into the tomato broth, gradually taking on its orange-red hue.

[!!! That lid is blocking my view of my food!]

[That tomato fish ball soup is as good as mine!!!]

[Using tomatoes with fish balls is genius! I bought some to eat raw as soon as the Agricultural Research Institute released them... I think it’s the only vegetable that actually tastes pretty good raw!]

Jiang Qiuqiu was brushing oil onto a skillet. Seeing the fan’s comment, she hummed in agreement and casually picked up a tomato from a nearby basket, holding it up for the stream to see.

"This is indeed one of the rare items from Taotao Fresh that you can eat raw, like a fruit."

She gave the skin a quick wipe, and then the red tomato vanished from the screen. The faint sound of chewing followed, and after a moment, Jiang Qiuqiu commented, "When you take a bite, the pulp is tender and almost melts in your mouth. It’s slightly tart, but the texture is excellent."

"It’s great for cutting the richness of heavier-tasting food."

[Is Juju talking about pairing it with Nutrient Liquid?]

[Will it cut through the awful taste of Nutrient Liquid?]

’Nutrient Liquid?’ The name, something she hadn’t encountered in a long time, brought back unpleasant memories. Jiang Qiuqiu’s expression stiffened, and she coughed twice. "No, no, no, you shouldn’t pair Nutrient Liquid with anything. It’s probably better to just chug it in one go."

"I was talking about pairing it with slightly greasy foods, like this pan-fried fish ball dish."