by Emily Ho

Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon) Recipe

Whether homemade or store-bought, kimchi is delicious straight from the jar, but it can also be incorporated into lots of other dishes. These savory kimchi pancakes make a scrumptious snack, side dish or appetizer. It's easy to make them gluten free and vegan, too. Just grab a skillet and a few simple ingredients.

Kimchi pancakes, or kimchijeon, are crispy, a bit chewy, and full of the umami goodness of Korean-style fermented cabbage. This recipe works especially well with older kimchi that is tangy and full of bold flavor. Mix kimchi juice with flour to make a rosy batter, stir in chopped kimchi and scallions, and fry.

Although kimchi pancakes are best warm from the skillet, I have never turned up my nose at room temperature leftovers. I like having them for a quick snack or a simple side dish for dinner. Cut into wedges or squares, kimchi pancakes also make great appetizers. Serve them with a spicy dipping sauce like yangnyeomjang or a simple soy and vinegar sauce, and watch them disappear!

[ Korean Recipes: Bulgogi-Style Grilled Steak | Grilled Beef with Green Rice ]

Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon) Recipe

    Prep Time: 20 minutes

    Cook time: 20 minutes

    Yield: Makes 4 Kimchi Pancakes

Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon) Ingredients

    1 cup cabbage kimchi

    1/4 cup all-purpose flour

    1/4 cup rice flour

    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

    2 scallions, finely chopped

    Vegetable oil for frying (I like using grape seed oil)

    Yangnyeomjang - Korean Seasoning Sauce (Makes 1/4 cup)

      3 tablespoons soy sauce

      1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

      1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar

      2 teaspoons gochugaru (see note)

      2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds, crushed or whole

      1/2 teaspoon sugar or honey

      1 clove garlic, crushed

      1 scallion, chopped

Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon) Recipe Instructions

    Drain the kimchi, reserving the juice. Measure the juice and top off with water if necessary to make 1/2 cup liquid. Coarsely chop the kimchi.

    In a large bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, rice flour, salt and kimchi juice/water. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in the chopped kimchi and scallions.

    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the skillet. For each pancake, add 1/4 of the mixture to the skillet and spread it out with the back of a spoon to make a pancake about 5 inches in diameter. Cook for about 2 minutes until the bottom is crispy and golden. Flip over and cook until the other side is crispy and golden, about 2 minutes more. Remove from skillet and drain on towels. (Work in batches and add more oil to the pan as necessary.)

    Serve the pancakes warm or at room temperature with dipping sauce on the side.

    For the Yangnyeomjang (Korean Seasoning Sauce):

    Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust quantities, if desired.

Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon) Recipe Notes

    Vegan version: Be sure to use fish- and shrimp-free kimchi. Trader Joe's sells vegan kimchi.

    Gluten-free version: Substitute sorghum flour or your favorite GF flour blend for all-purpose flour. For the dipping sauce, use wheat-free tamari or Bragg's liquid aminos.

    Easy dipping sauce: Combine 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.

    An essential ingredient in Korean cuisine, gochugaru (or kochukaru) is a coarsely ground red pepper with a texture between flakes and powder. Traditionally, gochugaru is made from sun-dried chili peppers, and versions that are prepared in this manner are still considered the best tasting. The flavor is hot, sweet and slightly smoky. Gochugaru can be bought at Asian specialty markets and online.

[ Korean Recipes: Bulgogi-Style Grilled Steak | Grilled Beef with Green Rice ]

Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon), Kimchi Pancakes Recipe, Korean

Available at Amazon.com: Keepers: Two Home Cooks Share Their Tried-and-True Weeknight Recipes and the Secrets to Happiness in the Kitchen

 

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Kimchi Pancakes (Kimchijeon) - Korean Recipes

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