Spicy & Tangy Aged Kimchi Pancake (Kimchi Jeon)
Spicy & Tangy Aged Kimchi Pancake (Kimchi Jeon)
How to Make Delicious and Crispy Kimchi Pancake with Aged Kimchi
On a gloomy, rainy day, what’s better than a warm, savory kimchi pancake? This recipe uses aged kimchi and pork for a wonderfully spicy and crispy treat. Adding kimchi juice to the batter deepens the flavor, and a touch of chili peppers adds a pleasant kick. It’s incredibly simple to make but tastes absolutely fantastic! Here’s my recipe for a kimchi pancake perfect for this kind of weather.
Main Ingredients- 1/4 head aged kimchi
- 1 strip pork belly (about 100g)
- 1/2 cup kimchi brine
- 1/4 onion
- 2 Cheongyang chili peppers (or other spicy green chilies)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, finely chop the aged kimchi and pork belly into bite-sized pieces (about 1-2 cm). Slice the onion thinly and cut the Cheongyang chili peppers diagonally. Adjust the amount of chili peppers if you prefer it spicier.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine the pancake mix and tempura flour in a 1:1 ratio (e.g., 1 cup pancake mix, 1 cup tempura flour). Mixing these two flours results in a crispier texture. Pour in the kimchi brine (1/2 cup). This is a crucial ingredient that defines the flavor of your kimchi pancake!
Step 3
Add the chopped onion and chili peppers to the batter and mix well. Adjust the batter consistency by adding more kimchi brine or water if needed. It should be thick enough to hold the ingredients but still pourable. Feel free to add more chili peppers if you love a spicy kick.
Step 4
Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, ladle a portion of the batter onto the pan, spreading it into a round shape. Avoid spreading it too thinly.
Step 5
Since there’s pork in the pancake, it’s important to cook it thoroughly until done. Cook slowly over medium-low heat initially. When the surface starts to set and bubbles appear, flip the pancake. After flipping, increase the heat slightly to medium-high to achieve a crispy exterior.
Step 6
Once both sides are golden brown and cooked to perfection, cut the kimchi pancake into serving pieces and plate it. Enjoy this delicious, spicy, and savory pancake, perhaps with a cool glass of makgeolli for the ultimate treat!
