Fragrant Wild Chive Pancake (Dolnamul Jeon)
Spring Delight: Making Fragrant Wild Chive Pancakes (Mushroom and Wild Chive Jeon) with April’s Seasonal Delicacy
We’ve made a delicious pancake using fragrant wild chives (dolnamul), which are packed with Vitamin C and excellent for preventing spring fatigue. This version includes chewy shiitake mushrooms for added depth of flavor. Feel free to enhance it with your favorite seafood like shrimp, squid, or clam meat for an even richer taste.
Ingredients
- 450g wild chives (dolnamul), trimmed and cleaned
- 2 fresh shiitake mushrooms
- 1 egg
- 40g carrot
- 2 Korean green chilies (cheongyang chili)
- 1/2 onion
- 1 Tbsp dried shrimp powder
- 1.5 cups tempura flour (twigim garu)
- 1 pinch salt
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare all the ingredients needed to make a delicious wild chive pancake.
Step 2
Thinly julienne the fresh shiitake mushrooms, carrot, and onion after washing and drying them. Finely mince the Korean green chilies after removing the seeds. These finely chopped and julienned vegetables will enhance the texture and flavor of your jeon.
Step 3
Start by trimming any wilted or yellow leaves from the wild chives. Then, soak them in water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar for about 5 minutes to refresh them. Rinse thoroughly under cold running water 3-4 times to remove any dirt or grit. Finally, cut the chives into bite-sized pieces, about 4-5 cm long. Ensuring the chives are fresh and fragrant is key to a delicious jeon.
Step 4
In a large bowl, combine 1.5 cups of tempura flour and a pinch of salt. Crack in 1 egg, and add 1 tablespoon of dried shrimp powder for a savory boost. Gradually whisk in water until you achieve a smooth, lump-free batter. The consistency should be thick enough to coat the ingredients but not too stiff. Once the batter is ready, add the prepared wild chives, julienned onion, carrot, shiitake mushrooms, and minced green chilies to the bowl.
Step 5
Gently mix the batter with the vegetables and mushrooms using a spatula or chopsticks. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the chives mushy. Ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the batter. This completes your delicious wild chive pancake batter.
Step 6
Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Ladle about a portion of the batter onto the hot pan and spread it into a round, flat shape using the back of the ladle. Cooking over medium heat allows the jeon to cook through without burning.
Step 7
Once the bottom of the jeon is golden brown and cooked, carefully flip it using a spatula or chopsticks. Cook the other side until it’s also a beautiful golden brown and crispy. Once both sides are perfectly cooked, your fragrant wild chive pancake is ready! Serve warm with your favorite soy dipping sauce.
