Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchi-Jeon)

Kimchi-jeon is basically made with kimchi and a little scallions as base - it's thinner than pajeon but packed with so much flavour from the kimchi. I highly recommend using really fermented kimchi that really packs a flavourful punch.

¾ cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 Tbsp. potato starch or cornstarch
¼ tsp. kosher salt
¾ cup kimchi, chopped
½ cup room temperature water, add ¼ cup or more as needed
½ cup kimchi juice
¼ cup scallions, chopped
3 Tbsp. neutral oil

To Serve:
1 serving Korean homemade dipping sauce
vegan kimchi
Sundubu Jjigae or Korean Soft Tofu Stew

Make the Batter:
In a mixing bowl, add in flour, potato or corn starch, and salt. Mix well. Mix the kimchi liquid and water together. Slowly add the liquid to the dry mixture while mixing. Mix until you’ve reached a batter consistency. Fold in the sliced kimchi and scallions.

Mix the batter until well incorporated. If your batter is a little too thick, feel free to add around ¼ cup or more water and then season with a bit of salt if needed. You'll want a batter that's not too thick and easy to spread to be able to make thin and crisp pancakes.

Mix the batter well and then prepare a large spoon or ladle for cooking.

Cooking the Pancakes:
Heat a medium-sized non-stick pan or skillet over medium high heat. Note that the size of your pancake will depend on the size of your pan. Add a generous amount of oil.

Pour in around 1/3-½ cup of the batter. Note that this will depend on the size of your pan. You can evenly spread out the batter and piece sof kimchi until you have a pancake that should be around be around ¼-½" thick. Cook the pancake for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.

Once the sides start to dry up, carefully scrape the sides with a spatula to ensure it hasn’t stuck to the pan. Once the pancake is crispy and has some brown spots underneath, carefully flip the pancake with a spatula. Cook the other side until brown and crisp. Repeat this for the rest of the batter.

Transfer the pancakes on to a plate or chopping board. You can slice them into smaller pieces. This is best enjoyed with a good dipping sauce.

Makes 3 pancakes.