Korean Scallion Pancakes With Seafood Pajeon

KOREAN SEAFOOD AND GREEN ONION PANCAKES (HAEMUL PAJEON)

Steps:

• Prepare a medium size bowl and add flour, cornstarch, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder and the icy cold water. Whisk it well. Transfer the pancake batter into a measuring jug (for easier pouring).
• Preheat the frying pan on high heat until the bottom of the pan is well heated. Add cooking oil (approx. 3 Tbsp) and ensure the oil is spread all the way around the pan. (Watch out for oil splash.)
• Wait until the temperature of the oil is ready to cook (about 1 minute). To check, drop a bit of pancake batter into the pan. If it sizzles, it is ready. Reduce the heat to medium high heat. Pour out the pancake batter (from step 1, use just less than half a cup) and spread it evenly and thinly around the pan.
• Place 6 green onion tops on the pancake batter parallel to each other and pour out a little bit of the pancake batter onto and between the green onions, filling the gaps. Reduce the heat to medium.
• Place some calamari, prawns and red chilies (optional) sparingly on top of the green onions.
• Use a spoon to drizzle half of the beaten egg over the top of pancake. While cooking, move the pancake in a circular motion from time to time, so the pancake doesn't get stuck to the pan.
• Turn the pancake over when you see the top of the pancake partially cooked. (This makes it easy to turn the pancake. It takes around 4 minutes). Add more cooking oil around the edges of the pancake circle if necessary to release. Press the pancake with the spatula a couple of times to sizzle and make it crispy. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the heat off and transfer onto a plate or a cutting board.
• Repeat step 2 to 7 for the remainder batter to use up the ingredients.
• Slice the pancake into bite size pieces. Serve it with Korean pancake sauce.

HAEMUL PAJEON (KOREAN SEAFOOD PANCAKE)

Steps:

• Combine seafood mix, water, flour, 1 bunch scallions, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl; mix until batter is thick.
• Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour half the batter evenly into the skillet. Cook until bottom and edges are browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until the opposite side is browned, 7 to 8 minutes more. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter.
• Combine soy sauce, 1 stalk scallion, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, gochugaru, and sesame seeds in a bowl. Serve pancakes with dipping sauce.

KOREAN SCALLION PANCAKES WITH SEAFOOD (PAJEON)

Steps:

• Combine pancake mix and rice flour in a mixing bowl, and add ice water. Mix just until the batter is moistened. Adjust the amount of water to mimic the consistency of western pancake batter.
• Heat a tablespoon of oil in skillet over medium-low heat. Place scallions to fit in the skillet. If the skillet is bigger than 9-10 inch, try to make the pancakes only 9 to 10-inch in diameter.
• Drizzle the pancake batter over the scallion to just barely cover. Shake the pan gently so the pancake batter can sip though the bottom of the skillet to stabilize the green onion.
• If using seafood, scatter the seafood pieces on top of scallion, and drizzle 1/3 of the beaten eggs on top.
• Pan-fry the pancake for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Flip to the other side and continue to cook for another 3 minutes. Add a little more oil if the skillet seems dry. You will want the crust to be deep golden brown in color and crisp. Adjust the heat so that you don't burn the scallions.
• Transfer the pancakes onto a cutting board and cut into big bite size pieces. Serve the pancakes immediately with the soy dipping sauce
• To make the soy dipping sauce, combine all the ingredients and mix well.

PAJEON (파 전 / SCALLION PANCAKES)

Steps:

• To make the batter, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, sugar, doenjang, and pepper in a medium bowl and mix well to blend. Add the club soda, egg yolk, and garlic and mix gently using a whisk. Do not whisk too much, or extra gluten will form in the batter, making it too thick and doughy. Whisk about 10 times, then let the batter rest for 10 minutes in the freezer so any remaining small clumps of flour can dissolve and blend into the mixture by themselves.
• When you're ready to make the pancakes, line a sheet pan with paper towels and set aside. Place scallions in a medium bowl and fold in just enough cold batter to hold the scallions together.
• Set a 10-inch nonstick sauté pan over high heat and add about 1 tablespoon of the oil. When the oil begins to shimmer and just barely smoke, add 1 cup of the scallion batter to the center of the pan. Using a spatula, spread it out to form a 7-inch pancake. (You don't want the pancake to touch the sides of the pan, or the edges may burn before the center is cooked through.) Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the bottom of the pancake has set. Once it has set, gently slide your spatula under the edges of the pancake and lift them, tilting the pan, so some of the hot oil runs underneath the pancake. Then cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, until the bottom is a deep golden brown and crisp. You can check the color by gently lifting an edge of the pancake with your spatula. Flip the pancake and cook on the other side for 3 to 4 minutes, until it is golden brown on the second side and cooked through. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan to drain. Wipe out the pan, set it back over high heat, add another tablespoon or so of oil, and repeat until all of the pancakes are cooked. The finished pancakes can be kept in a low (200°F) oven on a clean sheet pan while you cook the remaining batches, but it's best to eat them right away.
• Cut each pancake into quarters and serve with small bowls of the Pajeon Sauce and ice-cold makgeolli (Korean rice wine).

VEGETABLE PAJEON (KOREAN SCALLION PANCAKES WITH VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Prepare the pancakes: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, potato starch, salt and baking powder.
• In a medium bowl, combine water, egg and kimchi. Whisk kimchi mixture into flour mixture, and whisk until smooth. Fold in vegetables and about three-quarters of the scallions. (Save the rest for garnish.)
• In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil. Scoop 1/4 cup portions of batter into the skillet, as many as will fit while not touching, flatten, and fry until dark golden on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and continue to fry until other side is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with a little more salt. Continue with remaining batter.
• Before serving, make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, vinegar, ginger or garlic (if using), sesame oil and sugar. Sprinkle sliced scallion over pancakes, and serve with dipping sauce on the side.

PAJEON (KOREAN SCALLION AND SEAFOOD PANCAKE)

Steps:

• Trim the small green onions and scallions and cut them into 4-inch lengths. Wash oysters, clams, and hard-shelled mussels in brine (5 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt) and drain on a wicker tray.
• Slice oysters, clams, and hard-shelled mussels.
• Beat "A" with a whisk into a light batter and mix half the chopped seafood in the batter. "A" can be bought pre-mixed in bags in Korean food stores (just ask them).
• Place the green onions and scallions parallel in an oiled pan at a low heat and ladle a scoop of the batter onto them.
• After the patty cooks slightly, sprinkle the sea food and spread a little bit of batter again on the top.
• Turn the patty and fry until each side becomes appetizingly yellowish brown. Serve the pan-fried green onion and sea food with vinegar soy sauce mixed with "B".
• You can make this recipe with chives instead of green onions, and omitting the seafood if you like. Try putting your favourite veggies in there.

KOREAN SCALLION PANCAKES (PAJEON)

Steps:

• Make the pancakes:.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, sugar, salt, and pepper; stir to blend.
• In a separate small bowl, add the soy sauce, garlic, doenjang, and egg yolks; whisk to combine. Add this mixture and the club soda into the dry ingredients. Whisk about 10 times, then transfer to the freezer and let rest 10 minutes (this will help any remaining clumps incorporate).
• Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk the soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside.
• Retrieve the batter and fold in the scallion pieces. If the batter is too thick, add more club soda, 1⁄4 cup at a time, and mix well.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels, and set it next to the stove.
• In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1⁄2 cup of the oil over high heat. Once shimmering, carefully add 1 cup of the batter to the center of the pan. Using a spatula, spread to form a 7-inch pancake; avoid letting the batter touch the sides if possible (to prevent the edges from burning before the center is cooked through).
• Lower the heat to medium and cook until the bottom of the pancake has set, 2-3 minutes. Gently slide a spatula under the edge of the pancake and lift it, tilting the pan so some of the hot oil runs underneath the pancake. Cook until the bottom is crispy and deep golden brown, 2-3 minutes more. Carefully flip the pancake, being careful not to let the oil splash, and cook on the remaining side until golden brown and cooked through, 3-4 minutes.
• Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, letting the paper towels absorb any excess oil.
• Place the pan back over high heat, and add 2-3 tablespoons more oil if needed. Repeat the process until all the batter is used. To keep the finished pancakes warm and crispy, set them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in a low (200°) oven.
• Cut each pancake into pieces and serve with the dipping sauce on the side.