Pan-Fried Chinese Pancakes

Description

A delicious brunch snack that can be found in many Chinese breakfast shops. Its various names include ‘cong you bing,’ ‘jiu cai bing,’, ‘scallion pancakes,’ ‘green onion pancakes,’ etc. This particular recipe is passed down through my mother’s family, and brings back many good, yummy memories! Can serve with hot-sour sauce, or your favorite Chinese sauce.

Ingredients

  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon vegetable oil (Optional)
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil, or as needed
  • ½ cup finely chopped green onion
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or as needed (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Dissolve salt in warm water
  2. and mix in 1 cup of flour to make a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface
  3. and knead until slightly springy
  4. about 5 minutes. If the dough is sticky
  5. knead in 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Divide the dough into 8 equal-size pieces
  6. and keep the pieces covered with a cloth.
  7. In a bowl
  8. mix 1/4 cup of flour with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to make a mixture like fine crumbs.
  9. On a floured work surface
  10. roll a piece of dough out into a thin square about 5×7 inches in size
  11. brush the dough with toasted sesame oil
  12. and sprinkle lightly with about 1 1/2 teaspoon of the flour-oil mixture. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of chopped green onion onto the dough
  13. and spread the onion out evenly. Starting with a long end
  14. roll the dough up into a rope shape
  15. and pinch the seam and the ends closed. Roll the rope shape into a flat spiral
  16. and press lightly with your hands to compact the spiral and keep it from unrolling.
  17. Place the spiral down onto the floured work surface
  18. and gently roll it out into a pancake with the onions folded inside
  19. turning the pancake over often as you roll it out. Roll gently and turn often to avoid making holes in the pancakes. Finished pancakes should be about 5 inches in diameter. Repeat with the rest of the dough pieces
  20. making 8 onion pancakes.
  21. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat
  22. and brush with vegetable oil. Pan-fry each pancake in the hot skillet until golden brown on both sides
  23. about 5 minutes per side. Cut into wedges and serve warm.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Servings: 8

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