Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes) Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (2024)

by Kimberly Killebrew · 10 Comments

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Quick to prepare and deliciously satisfying as a main course, appetizer, or snack, this Pajeon recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes. Serve these crispy pancakes piping hot with the traditional dipping sauce for a tasty and satisfying Korean meal!

Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes) Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (1)

What are Pajeon?

Pajeon are savory Korean pancakes made from flour, water, and eggs and feature green onions or scallions as a dominant ingredient. Pa literally translates to “green onion” and jeon means “pancake”. Pajeon are very popular in Korean cuisine and can also be made with additional ingredients such as shrimp, beef, pork, tofu, seaweed, and other vegetables. For example, seafood pajeon are called haemul pajeon, kimchi pajeon are known as kimchijeon, and vegetable pajeon are called yachaejeon. Whatever ingredients may be added, the pancakes are fried on both sides until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This Pajeon recipe is for the basic and popular scallion version but you can use this recipe as a base and add any other ingredients you like.

Pajeon is a popular comfort food in Korea and can be found in Korean restaurants and sold by street vendors.

These savory Korean pancakes are enjoyed year-round and are eaten both as a main meal or as a snack. They are also commonly served as part of the Korean New Year’s feast when families get together to prepare and eat traditional Korean foods.

How to Serve Pajeon

Pajeon are served hot and cut into wedges. They are commonly served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce (I prefer tamari), vinegar, sesame oil, and other seasonings. They are eaten both as a main course (larger portion) as well as a snack (smaller portion). (Not traditional, but this Ginger Sauce or Cilantro Sauce are yummy dipping sauce alternatives.)

Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes) Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (2)

Pajeon Recipe

Quick and easy to prepare, this traditional Pajeon recipe is a breeze:

  • Make the dipping sauce by combining all the ingredients in a bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
  • Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg, water, fish sauce/miso paste and stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture just until blended. Be careful not to over-stir.
  • It’s time to cook the pancakes! Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and briefly sauté half of the garlic. Add half of the scallions and sauté for about 30 seconds. Arrange scallions according to desired shape. Pour 1/2 of the batter over the scallions and tilt the pan to smooth out the mixture. Fry until the pancake is golden brown and crispy on the bottom and then flip over and cook the other side until also browned. Repeat this process for the other pancake.
  • Cut each pancake into wedges and serve hot with the dipping sauce.

You can either make 2 large pancakes as a main dish or make 4 smaller pancakes as a side dish.

Enjoy!

Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes) Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (3)

Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes) Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (4)

Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes)

Kimberly Killebrew

The popular crispy Korean scallion pancakes! Tasty and satisfying as a main course, appetizer, or snack.

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Korean

Servings 4

Calories 233 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce or soybean/miso paste (optional)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup very cold sparkling water (sparkling creates a crispier texture but you can substitute use regular water)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 bunch green onions/scallions , ends trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons oil for frying , divided
  • For dipping sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or light soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic , minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • Red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

Instructions

  • For the dipping sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.

  • Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg, water, fish sauce/miso paste and stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture just until blended. Be careful not to over-stir.

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and briefly sauté half of the garlic. Add half of the scallions and sauté for about 30 seconds. Arrange scallions according to desired shape. Pour 1/2 of the batter over the scallions and tilt the pan to smooth out the mixture. Fry until the pancake is golden brown and crispy on the bottom and then flip over and cook the other side until also browned. Repeat this process for the other pancake.

    Cut each pajeon into wedges and serve hot with the dipping sauce.

    Serves 2 as a main dish; serves 4 as a side dish or snack.

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 1043mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg

Keyword Green Onion Pancakes, Korean Pancakes, Pajeon, Scallion Pancakes

Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet March 15, 2013

Pajeon (Korean Scallion Pancakes) Recipe - The Daring Gourmet (2024)

FAQs

Why isn t my pajeon crispy? ›

She says that when she put out her first video on the subject, “The number one question was: 'How come my pancake isn't crispy in the middle? ' And that's because you need to use a generous amount of oil, and make sure it gets under the pancake” by tilting the pan while lifting the pancake itself.

What does Pajeon mean in Korean? ›

Pajeon (Korean: 파전, Korean pronunciation: [pʰa. dʑʌn]) is a variety of jeon with scallion as its prominent ingredient, as pa (파) means scallion. It is a Korean dish made from a batter of eggs, wheat flour, rice flour, scallions, and often other ingredients depending on the variety.

What are Korean scallion pancakes made of? ›

Pa jun is made with a batter of flour, eggs, salt, and water. It works as a hearty snack, appetizer, or a side dish for a Korean meal. As with many recipes and dishes, you can tweak it to your taste—many people have their own delicious versions of pa jun.

How much Korean pancake mix to use? ›

Making Korean pancakes is easy to do at home, so it's definitely one you should try and let me know how you get on. I have used the following ingredients: 2 cups of white plain flour(300g) or 2 cups of Korean pancake mix. 2 cups of water (450-490ml)

Why is my Pajeon mushy? ›

Spread batter thinly – This is key in order to prevent from getting a mushy pancake. Beginner flips – Don't be afraid to use two spatulas to flip the pancake! If you try to flip it and it doesn't look like it will hold its shape and break, that means it's not fully cooked on one side.

Why is my Korean pancake gooey? ›

The batter should be thick so stir just until well combined. Over mixing will result in soft, somewhat gummy pancakes. Be sure to use cold water to keep the batter as cold as possible, and move quickly in making the pancakes. This will help produce the best texture.

Why is my Korean pancake not crispy? ›

one of the most important factors is actually the temperature of the oil. so you want make sure you have it hot enough to get it crispy. i cooked it for about 2min on medium heat. also you want to make sure that you're making the pancakes on the smaller side.

What do Koreans eat with Pajeon? ›

What Do You Eat With Korean Pancakes? Korean Pancakes are usually served as a side dish or appetizer. To make an Asian side dish spread try making spring rolls, kimchi, potstickers, and/or Asian Stir Fried Mushrooms.

What is a substitute for Korean pancake mix? ›

You can also simply use all purpose flour or gluten free flour, or recreate your own pancake mix similar to commercial premix by mixing 3/4 flour, 2 tablespoons rice flour, 2 tablespoons potato (or cornstarch), 1 teaspoon minced garlic (or powder), and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Why are my scallion pancakes tough? ›

It's not okay: To use hot water because it'll make the dough tougher. To not rest the dough in Step 1 because it'll make the dough harder to roll. To skip the slamming in Step 5 because the pancake will be dense rather than fluffy.

What is a fun fact about scallion pancakes? ›

Here's a fun fact about the scallion pancake: according to legend, Marco Polo loved these pancakes. When he returned home to Italy, he had some chefs make a different type of pancake so he could have some more. But what he got was the ancestor of another dish we all know and love her in modern day America: pizza.

What ethnicity are scallion pancakes? ›

Scallion pancakes have long been part of the culture in China and Taiwan, where the flatbreads are commonly eaten as a street food snack.

What is a Korean pancake called? ›

Buchimgae (부침개), or Korean pancake, refers broadly to any type of pan-fried ingredients soaked in egg or a batter mixed with other ingredients. More specifically, it is a dish made by pan-frying a thick batter mixed with egg and other ingredients until a thin flat pancake-shaped fritter is formed.

What is the difference between Korean and American pancakes? ›

Korean pancakes and American pancakes are actually quite different. The way they are made and the ingredients used vary slightly. The main difference with these Korean sweet pancakes though is that they are filled inside with a sweet filling, typically consisting of brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts.

Why arent my Korean pancakes crispy? ›

Batter consistency: if the batter is too thick, it might not spread thinly enough in the pan, resulting in a thicker pancake that is less likely to crisp up. Cooking oil: insufficient oil in the pan can hinder the pancake from achieving the desired crispiness.

Why are my pancakes chewy and not fluffy? ›

Why are my pancakes rubbery and chewy? The most common cause for pancakes turning out dense is over mixing.

Why are my pancake edges crispy? ›

Your pancakes may be getting crispy from the amount of oil and the high temperature your cooking them. If you do not want them crispy, cook your pancakes in unsalted butter at a lower temperature. Should my pancake batter be thick or thin? Proper pancake batter should be thick.

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