The four of them set to work on the fern flour. While the two Alphas relentlessly pounded the mixture into a fine dust, Ewan seized the moment to fire up a pan on the stove. Earlier, Asher Ryder had tracked down Boss Vance to buy half a small canister of cooking oil. Ewan used the entire batch to render a fragrant mushroom chili oil. Since he had brought along millet mushrooms this time, they became the star ingredient of the sauce.
Tossed with a generous helping of dried and freshly minced chilies, it bubbled into a rich, aromatic paste with an addictive, lingering kick.
Slathered over baked or thinly pan-fried fern flatbreads, it was absolute perfection. Honestly, with a jar of this, one could easily polish off a bowl of plain rice or unfilled steamed buns. Simply put, this mushroom chili oil was the ultimate salvation for any bland dish.
