Seafood Pajeon Korean Pancake

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.

KOREAN SEAFOOD PANCAKE (HAEMUL PAJEON)

Steps:

• Combine the dry ingredients of the batter in a medium-sized bowl. Slowly stir in the water and mix with a spatula until it forms a smooth, runny batter that can just coat the back of a spoon. Add a bit more water if the batter is still a bit thick and mix again.
• Mix the dipping sauce ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet until hot.
• Add half of the green onions to the pan in a single even layer, forming a rectangle about 7" by 9" (18 cm by 23 cm).
• Drizzle about 4 tablespoon of batter evenly over the green onions.
• Spread 1/3 cup of seafood mix evenly across the pancake and drizzle another 2 to 4 tablespoons of batter evenly over the seafood.
• Turn the heat to medium and allow the pancake to cook for 1 minute.
• Add about a third of the beaten egg over the pancake and spread it with a brush or a spoon to form an even layer.
• Cook the pancake for another 1 to 2 minutes, occasionally checking underneath, until it is browned and crisp.
• In one fluid motion, flip the pancake using a spatula (or two spatulas). It may be necessary to add another tablespoon of oil to the pan.
• Cook the pancake until the seafood side is browned and cooked through, another 2 to 4 minutes.
• Turn the pancake out onto a cutting board and slice into 9 squares or 8 triangles.
• Add more to the pan and repeat steps 4 through 11 to cook the remaining two pancakes.
• Serve hot with the dipping sauce on the side as an appetizer or main.

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.

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.