Sammy’s Vegetable Pajeon with a Soy & Ginger Dipping Sauce

Makes: 2 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes

Filled with spring onions and other vegetables, Sammy’s delicious Korean Pajeon pancakes make for a quick dinner that you can throw together on any given weeknight. She uses carrots and zucchini, finely julienned, in addition to the spring onions but feel free to use whatever vegetables you have!

Ingredients:

For the Pancakes:
* ¼ cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup each white rice flour and cornflour)
* ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as needed
* ½ teaspoon baking powder
* 1/3 cup ice water
* 1 large egg
* ¼ cup finely chopped kimchi
* 2 cups finely julienned or grated vegetables (carrots, zucchini, capsicum, whatever you’ve got)
* 2 spring onions, cut into 2-inch-long sections and thinly sliced lengthwise
* 2 tablespoons of peanut oil, plus more as needed

For the Dipping Sauce:
* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar, plus more to taste
* 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger or garlic.
* ½ teaspoon sesame oil, plus more to taste
* Pinch of granulated sugar

Method:

  1. Prepare the pancakes: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cornflour, rice flour, salt and baking powder.
  2. 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 spring onions (save the rest for garnish).
  3. 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.
  4. 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 spring onions and toasted sesame seeds over the pancakes, and serve with dipping sauce on the side.
  5. These pancakes pair perfectly with Makgeolli on a rainy day!