Scallion Pancake

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Scallion pancake is a classic and traditional Chinese cuisine. It is great for snacks, breakfast or lunch. People like to eat this with congee, noodles, pan fried buns and dim sum for breakfast. This cong you bing or Chinese scallion pancake recipe (Chinese green onion pancake) only has a few ingredients. Let’s learn how to make scallion pancakes at home with step by step photos and a video.

Love Chinese food? Check out these breakfast dim sum cheung fun, siu mai, custard buns, pork congee, turnip cake, lo mai gai, taro bun, steamed pork ribs and soy sauce noodles recipes.

What is scallion pancake?

Scallion pancake is a popular street food and snack in Asian countries, especially in China, Taiwan and other parts of East Asia. Also, Chinese green onion pancakes are served in restaurant like pan fried buns and dumplings. The basic scallion pancake recipe includes scallions, flour, water, salt and oil. However, some people like to add sesame seeds, minced garlic, or other seasonings to enhance the flavor.

In Mandarin Chinese, scallion pancakes called cong you bing (蔥油餅) and literally translates as scallion oil pancake or green onion oil pancake. Although it is called pancake, this Chinese green onion pancake is different from western pancakes that are made from a dough instead of a batter like this Chinese pan fry pancake recipe.

Cong you bing (蔥油餅) is a savory and unleavened flat flour dough folded with salt, green onion and oil. Then, pan fry until it’s golden brown which gives crispy edges, but chewy texture. They are known for their crispy texture, layers of flakiness and the flavorful scallions.

What does scallion pancake taste or flavor like?

Scallion pancakes have a unique and delicious flavor. They are savory and slightly crispy on the outside, with layers that are flaky and tender on the inside. The primary flavors come from the dough, salt and green onions.

The combination of the dough's texture with the savory and pungent flavors of the green onions creates a balanced and satisfying taste. The crispy exterior contrasts with the tender layers. And, the scallions infuse the pancake with their distinctive aroma and taste. Therefore, a lot of people love these Chinese green onion pancakes.

What is the difference between scallion pancakes and Korean pancakes?

Scallion pancakes and Korean pancakes are a pancake-like structure and involve pan-frying. But, they are different in terms of cultural origin, batter composition, texture and flavor. Scallion pancakes are more so focusing on creating layers of dough with a flaky texture and a savory flavor.

On the other hand, Korean pancakes are made with a batter like this Chinese pan fry pancake that includes a variety of ingredients, resulting in a thicker pancake with diverse flavors.

How to make flaky scallion pancakes?

In order to make flaky scallion pancakes, it involves dough resting, creating layers and cooking technique. The basic method to achieve flakiness in your cong you bing is to knead the dough and let it rest. This resting period relaxes the gluten and makes the dough easier to work with.

Then, roll the dough out into a thin, flat circle surface. After that, brush a thin layer of oil over the surface and sprinkle some chopped green onions on the oiled dough. Next, carefully roll the dough into a tight cylinder, like a roll. The following, shape it into a spiral or a coiled shape, tucking the end underneath. Gently flatten the coiled dough with your hands, then roll it out again into a thin circle. This rolling process creates layers of dough.

Heat up a pan over a small heat and add some oil. Then, place the rolled out dough onto the hot surface, cover the lid for a couple minutes and cook until the bottom is crispy golden brown. When you flip the pancake and cook the other side, apply some force to slap the pancakes. This can help loosen up the layers and create a flaky layer of scallion pancakes.

Where can I buy Chinese green onion pancakes?

You can buy scallion pancakes in Asian markets. They are normally uncooked, frozen and wrapped in plastic packages.

What are the ingredients for cong you bing?

In this cong you bing or scallion pancake recipe, the ingredients are flour, salt, water, green onion and oil.

cong you bing Chinese green onion pancake ingredients

What kind of flour do you use?

To make cong you bing, we normally use all purpose flour. When you mix the dough, don’t over knead the dough. Letting it rest is important.

What kind of oil do you use for cong you bing (蔥油餅) ?

I use vegetable oil. You can use canola, corn oil and peanut oil. Some people like to use lard.

How should I store them?

You can flatten the scallion pancake dough and grease oil on the parchment papers. Put the dough on the parchment papers and freeze them for months. When you want to eat them, you can pan fry it. Or, you can cook and freeze them for a couple months. You can warm them in the microwave with a wet paper towel or air fry it.

What kind of dipping sauce do you use for scallion pancakes?

People like to dip it into soy sauce with vinegar. Personally, I like to dip with chili oil, XO sauce, chili sauce, Thai sweet chili sauce or hoisin sauce.

Cooking tips for how to make Chinese green onion pancake:

Use all purpose flour and mix the dough for 2 minutes. Don’t over knead the dough. Resting the dough is very important after working on it.
Roll up the dough after putting salt and green onion. Then, twist and roll the dough a little bit. After that, roll up the ends and stack up. See the video below for details.
Bush some oil on the dough, then use the palm to press down the dough and flatten it.
Pan fry cong you bing with a small fire and cover with a lid for 2-3 minutes. After, flip the other side for another 2-3 minutes. Next, try to flip and pan fry the Chinese scallion pancakes until it’s golden brown. When you flip the pancakes, try to use some force to slap the pancakes because it helps loosen up the layers.

layers flaky cong you bing Chinese scallion pancake on hand

FAQs:

Can I freeze scallion pancakes?

Yes, you can make them and freeze them either uncooked or cooked.
When you can freeze the flatten dough mixed with green onion. Just make sure to use parchment paper, brush some oil and lay them in between. When it hardens after a couple hours, you can put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them until you want to cook it.

How do you reheat Chinese scallion pancakes?

You can reheat Chinese green onion pancakes in the microwave and cover them with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out. Warm it up for 30 seconds to a minute.

Also, you can air fry them at 350°F (175°C) for 2-4 minutes, check it until the pancakes are heated through and crisped up.

Instructions for how to make Chinese scallion pancakes:

flour and salt in the silver bowl top view

Making the dough:

1.Put 2 cups of all purpose flour into a bowl. Then, add ½ teaspoon of salt. Mix it well.

2. Pour the flour mixture from step 1 into the Bosch mixer. Turn on the lowest setting #1, slowly add 1 cup of water. Let the mixer run for 2 minutes.

3. Take the dough out from the mixer and put it into a bowl.

Resting the dough:

4. Cover the dough with a cloth and rest for 20 minutes.

Cutting green onions:

5. In the meanwhile, wash and cut 8 sticks of green onion (3.8 oz).

6. After that, take the dough out and shape into a ball.

Dividing and rolling the dough:

7. Then, divide the dough into 4 pieces.

8. Take a piece of the dough, roll and flatten out.

red brush brush oil on the flatten dough

9. Brush some oil on the dough.

sprinkle salt and green onion on the flatten dough

Combining the ingredients:

10. Sprinkle some salt on the flatten dough and put some cut green onion.

roll up the flatten dough with green onion

Shaping the dough:

11. Roll up the dough.

12. Twist the dough a little bit.

13. After, roll the ends and stack up the dough. See the video for details. Repeat steps 6-9 and finish the rest of the dough. Also, cover the dough and rest for 30 minutes before pan frying them.

14. Brush some oil on the dough and use your palm to press down the dough and flatten it.

pan fry Chinese scallion green onion pancake in non-stick pan

Cooking:

15. Pour ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil into the non-stick pan, then turn on medium small fire pan fry for 2-3 minutes and cover with a lid. Next, flip the other side and cover the lid for another 2-3 minutes.

pan frying Chinese green onion scallion pancake in the pan

16. After, open the lid, try to pan fry and flip the scallion pancakes until it’s golden brown. (When you flip the green onion pancakes, try to use some force to slap the pancakes. It helps loosen up the layers.)

circle pan fried Chinese scallion green onion pancakes

Enjoy this simple and delicious cong you bing or Chinese scallion pancake recipe! Also, check out these sugar donuts, sweet and sour pork, beef with bitter melon and baby bok choy recipes.