Hot Pepper And Scallion Pancakes With Charred Squid Pickles And Vegetables Food

SCALLION PANCAKES

Steps:

• Make the dipping sauce: Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil in a small bowl and whisk until the sugar dissolves; set aside.
• Make the scallion pancakes: Put the flour in a large bowl, then add the boiling water and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a ball.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, elastic and no longer sticky, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the dough to a large bowl, cover and let rest 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200˚ F. Divide the dough into 8 pieces, then roll each into a thin 8-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Brush each circle of dough with 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 heaping tablespoon scallions; season with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Roll up each circle of dough into a cigar; then, working from one side, roll each into a coil, tucking the ends underneath. Lightly flour the surface again and roll each coil to a 7-inch pancake (1/8 inch thick).
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pancake and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining pancakes, adding 1 more tablespoon vegetable oil to the skillet each time and reducing the heat to medium if the pancakes are browning too quickly. Slice the pancakes into wedges. Serve with the dipping sauce.

SCALLION PANCAKE (PAJEON)

Steps:

• Batter: In a large bowl, add flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, sugar, and pepper. Mix well and set aside. In another bowl, add egg yolks, club soda, and soy sauce. Smash and peel the garlic, then finely chop. Use the flat part of your knife to press down on the garlic to further break it down, then continue to mince. Place garlic in the bowl with the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently whisk, just enough to combine. (Do not over-whisk, or you will form extra gluten in the batter, making it too doughy.) Cover with plastic and let rest in the refrigerator, allowing any small lumps in the batter to dissolve, 10-15 minutes.
• Trim and discard scallion roots and the very tips of the greens. Slice scallion greens into 1½-inch batons; cut the denser white parts slightly shorter, about 1 inch. Chop the Chinese chives into 1-inch batons. Combine chives and scallions in a bowl.
• Dipping sauce: In a small bowl, add soy sauce, sesame oil, mirin, and rice vinegar. Stir to blend. Reserve at room temperature until ready to use. Makes about ¼ cup. (Note: Dipping sauce can be made several days ahead and stored in a lidded container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Heat skillet over high heat. Remove batter from refrigerator and quickly whisk, about 10 seconds. Ladle just enough batter into the scallions and chives to hold them together; mix with your hand until every scallion and chive is coated with batter. (You will have leftover batter.) Add ¾ of the oil to the hot skillet, enough to cover the bottom in a thin layer. When the oil is rippling, add the pancake mixture: spread it in an even layer across the skillet, without letting it touch the sides of the skillet. (Otherwise, the edges will burn before the center is cooked through.) Ladle another ½-cup batter across the top of the pancake and cook until it's golden brown on the bottom, 2-3 minutes. Lower the temperature if the pancake is browning too quickly.
• Gently slide a spatula (or two, if necessary) under the pancake and flip it, using caution to avoid oil splatter. Cook 2-3 more minutes, flattening the top with spatula, and occasionally shaking the skillet so some of the hot oil runs underneath the pancake. Add more oil as necessary to maintain a thin layer in the skillet. When the bottom is a deep golden brown, flip one more time and cook another 2 minutes.
• Remove pancake from skillet and transfer onto several layers of paper towels to drain excess oil. Cut pancake into 6 wedges, like a pizza, and serve immediately with dipping sauce. (Note: Extra batter can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days; make another pancake using scallions or any seasonal leafy green.)

SCALLION PANCAKES WITH SQUID

Steps:

• In a small bowl, prepare the dipping sauce. Whisk together 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of the rice wine vinegar and mirin. Set aside.
• In another small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, the remaining 4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar, denjang or miso paste, garlic, ginger, egg yolk, 1 cup of water and mix well.
• Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat with 1/4-inch grapeseed or vegetable oil. The oil should be hot, but not smoking, about 325 degrees.
• In a large bowl, mix the rice flour, all-purpose flour and baking powder. Add the squid and scallions and toss to combine. Pour in the denjang mixture and stir until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
• Carefully spoon half of the batter into the hot pan and fry until the bottom is golden and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and fry for another 3 to 4 minutes until crispy and cooked through. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels so oil can drain. Repeat with the second half of the batter. Cut pancakes in quarters and serve with the dipping sauce.