Who Is the World’s Strongest Appraiser? ~Living in Another World With Satisfying Meals~

Stuffed Bell Peppers For Bell Pepper Haters

“What is this!? Are you trying to torment me!?”

The one extremely angry was Hermine. Her gaze was fixed on the kitchen counter, which was covered in a mountain of bell peppers. These peppers were a gift from a farmer whom they had helped fend off a monster attack. Yuuri was very pleased because they got the vegetables for free.

However, Hermine was furious. The reason was quite simple. She hated bell peppers. Hermine, who appeared to be in her early teens, was actually much older in human years as a feathered person. Nonetheless, she disliked bell peppers so much that she practically despised them.

“It’s not a torment. I just thought we could use them for dinner.”

“That’s exactly what makes it torment!”

“Hermine, do you hate bell peppers?”

“I hate them! I really hate them! …I’ve tried to eat them, though.”

Perhaps feeling embarrassed about yelling, Hermine muttered her excuse quietly. Yuuri responded with a carefree smile. Hermine, expecting to be scolded, looked at Yuuri in surprise.

“…Aren’t you mad?”

“Huh? Why? Everyone has one or two things they don’t like.”

“But Yuuri, you always say not to leave food behind.”

“Well, leaving food is bad manners. But if you force yourself to eat something you hate, it won’t taste good, and you won’t get the nutrition. Even I have foods I don’t like.”

“”You do!?””

“…Why is everyone so surprised?”

Not only Hermine but also Yakk, who was helping with the dinner preparations, and Relei and Kurresh, who brought the peppers back, along with Camille, who was watching for fun, all shouted. They all thought Yuuri didn’t dislike any food and ate everything. The truth was, since Yuuri was cooking, he didn’t use ingredients he didn’t like. None of them realized this.

“I do have foods I dislike. I can’t handle spicy or bitter things, and I’m not fond of dishes cooked with alcohol.”

“…But that’s not a specific food.”

“Well, well. I won’t make you eat something you hate. But maybe, just maybe, you might be able to eat it, so give it a try at dinner?”

“…Ugh. But it’s bell peppers, right? No way!”

Hermine’s response was firm. She hated bell peppers that much. It wasn’t that she disliked green vegetables or bitterness. For some reason, she just couldn’t eat bell peppers. Even though everyone said paprika, a close relative, was easier to eat, it still tasted like bell peppers to her, and she didn’t like it.

Yuuri, with his usual smile and without saying anything more, returned to dinner preparations. Hermine watched intently to see how he would cook the bell peppers she hated so much.

“…You’re watching?”

“I’m watching.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m curious how Yuuri will make the bell peppers edible for me.”

“Haha, I see. Well, watch closely.”

Yuuri laughed and went back to work. First, he washed the bell peppers thoroughly. The large bell peppers were a bright green and shiny. For Hermine, who hated them, this shine might have been annoying, but for everyone else, they were fresh and well-cared-for vegetables.

Yuuri cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise and carefully removed the seeds and ribs, making sure not to cut off the stems. He removed the tough stem tops by twisting them off. Next to him, Yakk was chopping bison and pork into mince, having fun despite the hard work. Relei and Kurresh, who had offered to help, were also enjoying chopping the meat with enthusiasm. The trainees didn’t usually do kitchen duty, but they could cook, and mincing meat was great for stress relief, so they were happy to help.

“Yakk, is the mince ready? …Why is Kurresh using the knife so enthusiastically?”

“Sorry, Yuuri. Mincing was fun.”

“Well, I’m glad you helped. Mix this onion into the mince. Also, add eggs and breadcrumbs.”

“I’ll do that. I’m the one on kitchen duty.”

Kurresh transferred the mince into a bowl, and Yakk brought the bowl to Yuuri. Yuuri added finely chopped onions, breadcrumbs, and eggs, then sprinkled salt and pepper. Yakk mixed the ingredients with his clean hands. His effort to mix everything thoroughly was endearing, making him look quite childlike.

After leaving the meat mixture to Yakk, Yuuri turned back to the numerous halved bell peppers. He took out a tea strainer, a common item in this world with green tea. Although Yuuri found it puzzling that there wasn’t a miso strainer, it was understandable since miso wasn’t available in the capital city Draheln.

Anyway, Yuuri, holding a tea strainer in one hand, equipped a spoon for scooping flour in the other. In a tray on the counter, bell peppers were lined up, cut side up. Yuuri began sifting flour over the bell peppers using the tea strainer.

The flour lightly covered the green bell peppers. Satisfied, Yuuri nodded slightly. By then, the meat mixture was ready, and Yakk approached with the bowl.

“Alright, Yakk, let’s start stuffing the bell peppers with this meat mixture.”

“Got it.”

“Use a spoon to scoop the mixture, and pack it in firmly so it won’t fall out…”

Stuffed firmly with the meat mixture, the bell peppers were watched skeptically by Hermine. Oblivious to her suspicion, Yuuri and Yakk continued stuffing the bell peppers.

Once they were stuffed, Yuuri placed the bell peppers, meat side down, in an oiled frying pan. The sizzling sound of the meat and the savory smell filled the kitchen. As the aroma made everyone hungry, Yuuri continued his work.

After the meat-stuffed bell peppers were browned, Yuuri flipped them over and added some sake to the pan. He then covered the pan and let them steam over low heat. The scent of sake and meat mixed, making everyone’s stomachs growl, but Yuuri ignored them.

While the peppers were steaming, Yuuri turned his attention to a pot on the stove. In it, a well-made broth was simmering. Yuuri tasted the broth and adjusted the flavor with sake, salt, and soy sauce. After making the broth slightly strong, he added cornstarch mixed with water to thicken it. Stirring the pot quickly created a glossy sauce.

Yuuri turned off the stove and transferred the steamed stuffed bell peppers to a small deep dish. He cut them in half and poured the fresh sauce over them. The dish was now complete.

“…Well, this should be good enough.”

Yuuri tasted one of the halves he had cut. Everyone watched him intently, but he ignored them to prevent them from tasting and leaving nothing for dinner.

Yuuri then cut the remaining half into quarters, placing one piece on a small plate. He gave the rest of his portion to Yakk, who was on cooking duty and responsible for tasting the food. Yakk, determined not to lose his task, eagerly tasted it.

As for the other small plate…

“Hermine, would you like to try a bite?”

“…But it’s bell pepper, right?”

“Yes. You can leave it if you don’t like it. This is just a taste test.”

With a smile, Yuuri offered the stuffed bell pepper with sauce. The aroma of the grilled meat and the savory sauce tempted Hermine. The bell pepper, her most hated vegetable, was almost invisible, flattened, and hidden under the meat.

Hermine cautiously cut the quarter piece in half and took a bite. The savory sauce was delicious. The minced meat with finely chopped onions had a perfect flavor. The combination of the sauce and meat created a taste that was surprisingly light yet satisfying, making her want more.

And as for the bell pepper she despised…

“…It’s good.”

Hermine muttered. To be precise, the bell pepper’s bitterness was masked by the meat and sauce, making it unnoticeable. The texture indicated she was eating bell pepper, but it didn’t taste like it. The meat and sauce filled her mouth, overshadowing any hint of bitterness.

Hermine swallowed her bite and, with a determined look, ate the remaining half of the piece. Once again, she muttered, “It’s good.”

“Do you think you can eat bell peppers like this?”

“…Yes. They’re soft and blend with the meat, so the usual bitterness doesn’t spread.”

“Yeah, I think we become more sensitive to flavors we dislike.”

Yuuri’s smile widened as Hermine repeated that it was good. Yuuri, always kind, went out of his way to cook in a way she could enjoy, making Hermine pout in frustration. Her muttering about Yuuri being too nice was likely unconscious.

“Did you say something?”

“Nothing at all. I’ll eat this, so please make it for dinner.”

“Leave it to me.”

Yuuri’s constant smile made Hermine smile back. Meanwhile, the others were shouting about how unfair it was that Hermine got to taste it first, but Yuuri and Hermine ignored them. Only Yakk, pressured by the hungry crowd, seemed unfortunate.

Incidentally, the stuffed bell peppers were a hit with everyone, leading to a dinner-time scramble as usual.