Crispy Cheesy Kimchi Pancake
The Ultimate Friday Night Snack! Elevate Your Korean Kimchi Pancake to a Gourmet Cheese Appetizer
If you don’t like kimchi pancake, are you even Korean? It’s Friday night, and I’m craving a delicious late-night snack. Since I always have kimchi on hand, a kimchi pancake it is! This recipe is perfect for using up leftover kimchi and turning it into a satisfying dish. We’re adding a generous amount of cheese to make it even more special and a fantastic appetizer or drinking snack!
Pancake Ingredients
- 1/4 head well-fermented kimchi
- 1 ladleful of kimchi brine
- 1/4 onion
- 1/3 zucchini
- 10 shrimp
- 2 cups pancake mix (approx. 180g, using a paper cup)
- 300ml water
- Cooking oil, for frying
- Shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or your favorite blend) generously
Kimchi Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sugar (add more if your kimchi is very sour)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp sugar (add more if your kimchi is very sour)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- Pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by thinly slicing the well-fermented kimchi (about 1/4 of a head) and placing it in a large bowl. Don’t forget to add about a ladleful of the kimchi brine for extra flavor and moisture.
Step 2
Rinse the shrimp thoroughly under cold water. Adding fresh seafood will significantly enhance the depth of flavor in your kimchi pancake.
Step 3
Peel the shrimp and devein them by making a shallow cut along their backs and removing the dark digestive tract with a toothpick or the tip of a knife. This step ensures a cleaner taste and better texture.
Step 4
Finely chop the kimchi in the bowl. Cutting it too large can prevent even mixing with the batter and slower cooking. Aim for bite-sized pieces, slightly smaller than what you’d typically expect in a pancake.
Step 5
Thinly slice the prepared onion (1/4) and zucchini (1/3), and add them to the bowl along with the 10 deveined shrimp. Mix them with the chopped kimchi.
Step 6
Now, let’s add the seasonings that will bring this kimchi pancake to life! Stir in 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of gochugaru, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. If your kimchi is particularly sour, feel free to increase the sugar slightly to balance the flavors.
Step 7
Using a spatula or spoon, thoroughly mix all the ingredients and seasonings together. Ensure the kimchi’s flavor is evenly distributed among the vegetables and shrimp.
Step 8
To the kimchi mixture, add about half a cup of pancake mix (measured with a paper cup) and stir lightly. Then, gradually pour in 300ml of water while mixing. It’s important not to make the batter too thick at this stage.
Step 9
Add the remaining 1.5 cups of pancake mix to complete the batter. Be careful not to overmix; vigorous stirring can make the pancake less crispy. Mix just until the lumps of flour disappear and the batter is smooth but still has some texture. A slightly thin batter is ideal for a crispy result.
Step 10
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Ladle the kimchi batter onto the hot pan and spread it thinly and evenly into a large circle. Let it cook until golden brown on the bottom. If you’re in a hurry, you can even cook two pancakes at once! (Ensure the pan is well-heated before adding the batter to prevent sticking and ensure crispiness.)
Step 11
Once the edges of the pancake look golden and the bottom is cooked, carefully lift the pan and use a quick flick of your wrist to flip the pancake in one go. This technique helps keep the pancake intact and ensures an even crispiness without making it tough.
Step 12
After flipping, generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the cooked side of the pancake. Immediately cover the pan with a lid and let it steam-cook for a minute or two. The steam will melt the cheese and ensure the pancake is cooked through, creating a wonderfully gooey center.
Step 13
And there you have it – a delicious cheesy kimchi pancake! The combination of the crispy pancake and the gooey, melted cheese is absolutely divine. Enjoy this fantastic late-night snack on your Friday night. Highly recommended!
