Chapter 178: Oyster Omelet

Oyster omelet, also known as *kezaijian*, is pronounced *ou a jian* in Min Nan, and translated as *hailijian* in Mandarin.

This street food goes by many names, but the cooking methods are largely the same. It is a common home-style dish and a classic traditional snack that originated in Fujian Quanzhou and is popular in regions like Min Nan, Taiwan Province, and Chaoshan. The basic method involves mixing sweet potato flour, eggs, and various seasonings into a base batter, which is then used to coat tiny raw oysters.

A hot iron griddle quickly cooks the batter and the oysters inside. Once cooked, adding egg wash and chopped green onions completes this highly delicious oyster omelet.

The iron griddle in front of the female stall owner was enormous, yet her movements were exceptionally nimble. The giant pancake in front of her was like a well-behaved child, allowing her to control and flip it at will.

The snow-white surface of the oysters quickly turned a crispy golden brown. The tangerine-colored egg wash fell from above like a golden thread, landing on the large iron griddle that was SIZZLING with hot oil. As the tangerine egg wash touched the hot metal, it quickly solidified.

The egg gently enveloped the golden-brown oysters. As the female stall owner continuously flipped it, a rich, eggy aroma quickly permeated the air.

Before long, four portions of oyster omelets, packed to the brim in kraft paper, were handed to Li Xiao and the other three.

Bidding farewell to the stall owner, he couldn’t wait to look at the oyster omelet in front of him. The outer layer of the oyster omelet was pan-fried to a crisp. Golden and tantalizing, it exuded a rich, savory aroma. He took a light bite. The crispiness of the exterior paired flawlessly with the softness of the oysters and batter inside.

The crispy crust made an intoxicating CRUNCH CRUNCH sound that left him utterly mesmerized. The eggs blended into the batter enhanced the overall smooth and tender texture, while the fresh, savory taste of the oysters themselves added a unique flavor of the ocean to this snack.

Li Xiao savored every bite of the oyster omelet carefully. Every piece was a tribute to traditional craftsmanship and a display of love for fine food. This was not just a plate of snacks; it was an embodiment of boundless culinary passion passed down for decades.

Although the oysters inside were not large, they were so fresh that they lacked any overpowering fishy smell. Their meat was also very firm and springy. The freshness and the elasticity of the oyster meat achieved a perfect balance.

In the fusion of the oysters and batter, a faint hint of garlic could vaguely be tasted. This just-right seasoning enriched the overall flavor profile of the oyster omelet, making every bite leave a lasting aftertaste.

[Congratulations, you have illuminated the 57th entry in the compendium.]

[The culinary compendium entry you illuminated is: Oyster Omelet.]

[Culinary rating: 89 points (Good).]

[Since the culinary rating is Good, rewards x3.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 400,000 yuan.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 400,000 yuan.]

[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Oyster Omelet Recipe.]

…

The small portion of the oyster omelet wasn’t very large, and the taste was quite excellent. In just two minutes, the kraft paper in Li Xiao’s hands was completely empty. However, he had no intention of turning back to buy another one, because he was quickly drawn to the next stall.

Li Xiao glanced at the sign above the stall: Pan-fried Rice Cake. It was a very unique name he had never heard before, so he turned to look at Xu beside him.

“Xu, is this any good?”

However, without waiting for Xu to answer this time, Wen Yaqian smiled and introduced it from the side:

“Of course it’s good! We used to have this at the entrance of our elementary school. I loved it.

“It’s actually very simple to make. You just grind rice into a slurry, make it into rice cakes, pan-fry the rice cakes in an iron wok until they are golden brown, and then sprinkle on different seasonings.

“The stall outside our school used to only put white sugar on it, but if my mom made it herself, she would pour a minced meat and shiitake mushroom broth over it. That tastes just as delicious; you should try it.”

Hearing Wen Yaqian’s introduction, Li Xiao did not hesitate and immediately lined up. Soon, two portions of different-flavored pan-fried rice cakes were in the hands of the four people.

When Li Xiao got his hands on the two different-flavored pan-fried rice cakes, his curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

The first pan-fried rice cake was the classic white sugar flavor. Its exterior boasted a tempting golden yellow, and the surface was sprinkled with crystal-clear sugar grains. This pan-fried rice cake was cooked to perfection on the iron griddle—crispy on the outside and soft and glutinous on the inside. Every bite delivered the subtle fragrance of rice and the sweetness of the white sugar.

Li Xiao took a bite and was immediately captivated by this simple yet exquisite taste. The rice cake made from rice slurry had a spongy and soft texture, while its surface was pan-fried at a high temperature until it was fragrant and charred.

These two distinctly different textures made the entire pan-fried rice cake an incredibly wondrous eating experience. Dusted with fine white sugar, every bite was a perfect fusion of rice fragrance and sweetness. This snack possessed both the familiar taste of traditional rice cakes and a hint of local characteristics, leaving a long-lasting aftertaste.

The second pan-fried rice cake was the minced meat and shiitake mushroom flavor recommended by Wen Yaqian.

This pan-fried rice cake was drenched in a rich minced meat and shiitake mushroom broth, making the entire surface glossy and enticing. The minced meat and shiitake mushrooms were chopped very finely. Their aromas merged perfectly, exuding a rich, savory scent.

Li Xiao carefully took a small bite, and the instant explosion on his taste buds pleasantly surprised him. The umami of the minced meat and the mellowness of the shiitake mushrooms blended flawlessly into the soft, glutinous rice cake. Every bite was a mingling of savory flavors and chewy softness, delivering a completely different gustatory enjoyment from the white sugar flavor.

[Congratulations, you have illuminated the 58th entry in the compendium.]

[The culinary compendium entry you illuminated is: Pan-fried Rice Cake.]

[Culinary rating: 90 points (Excellent).]

[Since the culinary rating is Excellent, rewards x4.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 800,000 yuan.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 800,000 yuan.]

[Congratulations, you have received an experience reward: Rice Selection Insights.]

[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Pan-fried Rice Cake Recipe.]

…

What surprised Li Xiao was that the pan-fried rice cake’s score actually reached 90 points. After pondering it for a moment, he figured out the reason.

Although making the pan-fried rice cake was very simple and the toppings were prepared in advance, the quality of the rice slurry used to make the rice cake was phenomenal. This resulted in the rice cake itself possessing an extremely rich, sweet, and glutinous rice fragrance.

Moreover, the stall owner’s control over the heat when pan-frying the rice cake was incredibly meticulous. This made the outside of the rice cake aromatic, flaky, and crispy, while the rice cake inside remained exceptionally soft, glutinous, and pleasantly chewy. These two distinctly different sensations perfectly elevated the rating of this delicacy.

After eating two fried snacks in a row, Li Xiao suddenly felt a bit thirsty. Looking around, he quickly spotted a small shop selling beverages. Its decor was a bit rundown, but it was bustling with popularity.

Wishing all you handsome readers and Immortal Sisters a Happy New Year’s Day!

May you strike it rich in the New Year, enjoy good health, and have all your wishes come true.