Scallion Pancake with Soy Vinaigrette

40m

A chewy pancake typically fried up on the griddle. The dry mixture is handy to have in your pantry — you can make a savory pancake with the filling of your choice any time. It also makes a great batter to fry fish or vegetables.

Scallion pancakes, also known as pajeon, are a crowd favorite in Korean restaurants. You can find numerous versions of this recipe in Korea, but this is Insa’s version: crispy, light, and with a slightly gooey texture. We use the same base to make our Haemul Pajeon (seafood & scallion pancake). The soy vinaigrette, also known as cho ganjang, is a simple dipping sauce that we serve with the pancakes and our dumplings. The pancake can be enjoyed on its own, or paired with a variety of Korean banchan (side dishes) such as kimchi, pickled vegetables, or seasoned soybean sprouts.

Thinly slice 1 scallion and place it in a bowl
Add 1 cup of soy sauce and 6 tbsp of rice vinegar
Add ½ cup of water, 1 tsp of ground gochugaru pepper and 1 tsp of sesame oil
Add 1 tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of white sesame seeds
Whisk until thoroughly combined. The soy vinaigrette is ready
Add 300 g of all-purpose flour and 300 g of potato starch to a bowl
Add 10 g of baking powder and 18 g of salt. Whisk to fully incorporate all the ingredients
Add 3 cups of cold water in batches. Whisk until the batter has a thick buttermilk texture. If the batter is too thick, add 1 tbsp of cold water and whisk until you get the right consistency
Trim and cut the white part of 1 bunch of scallions lengthwise. Cut the scallions into 3 cm pieces
Add ¼ of the scallions to a bowl
Add 1 cup of the batter and combine
Heat up a medium frying pan over medium heat
Add enough vegetable oil to cover the entire pan. Let it fully heat
Turn off the heat and add the batter
Turn the heat back on to medium and cook the pancake for 2m until the edges start to set
Carefully flip the pancake with a spatula and cook the other side until golden brown. Remove from heat and repeat the process with the remaining scallions and batter
Let the pancakes cool slightly and slice them to serve
Serve with the soy vinaigrette
The scallion pancakes with soy vinaigrette are ready. Enjoy!