Spring onion pancakes

Jason Oxenham

During a trip to Taiwan I found an amazing stall selling hot, crisp, flaky spring onion pancakes one morning and they were a revelation. A simple dough rolled up and cooked on a hot plate, I thought that would be the thing I'd try and create at home. They don't ever taste the same as eating them standing on the side of the road on a humid day with the sights and sounds of a morning market, but I've given it a good go.

Ingredients

250 g	Plain flour, plus extra for dusting
80 ml	Boiling water
70 ml	Cold water
2 Tbsp	Vegetable oil
1 bunch	Spring onion, finely chopped (Main)
1 tsp	Sesame seeds (Main)

Directions

1. Put the flour in a bowl and add the boiling water, stirring with chopsticks. This is called "burning" the flour. Give it a mix and once it has cooled enough, continue mixing with your hands.
2. Add the cold water, a quarter at a time, and continue mixing.
3. When mixed thoroughly, take the dough out of the bowl and knead on a flour-covered bench. You may need to add more flour as you knead. Continue kneading until the dough is shiny and your hands and the bench are clear of dough.
4. Roll the dough into a ball and place in a bowl covered with cling film. Seat aside for about half an hour.

To cook

1. Take a piece of dough about the size of your fist and roll it out on the bench into a circle about 15cm in diameter. Spread some vegetable oil over the dough, then sprinkle over the chopped spring onion. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds.
2. Roll the pancake into a tight cylinder, then coil it around into a circle (like a caterpillar rolling itself into a circle). With a rolling pin, flatten this circle into a pancake again.
3. Add oil to your frying pan and heat to a medium-high heat. Add the pancake to the frying pan and fry until golden, then flip and cook the other side until golden and crisp.
4. Serve as a side dish with chilli oil or chilli sauce or your favourite Asian-inspired dip. Also great at breakfast time.

If you liked this recipe, try Delaney's

Taiwanese cucumber salad