Chinese Scallion Pancakes /Cong You Bing with Ginger-Soy- Dipping Sauce

When I made Korean scallion/green onionpancakes/Pajeon, I told you I am going to make the Chinese version of scallion pancakes too. And yes I did make it.  Chinese scallion pancakes is yet another addictive and delicious snack or appetizer.  These are famous street food usually served by vendors.

I always had an impression that Chinese dish means fried rice or noodle, egg rolls and egg drop soup or hot and sour soup. And Indo-Chinese dishes with the Schezwan Sauce/Sichuan Sauce and Manchurian sauce.   However, China is big country and has its own cuisine varies from region to region.  Unfortunately we only get to taste only a few Chinese recipes adapted to foreign countries just like Indian cuisine.  Indian restaurants serve only few items and menu will same all over the world except in India. 

According to Wikipedia Chinese scallion / green onion pancake is not leavened savory pancake like our paratha.  It may have scant similarities to our paratha; but way of cooking is very different.  I was able to find lot of recipes in internet. I liked these three recipes ones from Use real butter, Serious eats  and   from delicious days.  Also watched this YouTube video  In this recipe from Appetite for china she is using yeast too. I didn’t use yeast in the recipe. 

These are made with all purpose flour/Maida. Dough is made with hot water resulting in the breaking down of protein and developing less gluten than cold water dough. Then dough is kept at rest for about 20 minutes and spread into a circle, sprayed with oil and sprinkled with green onion and salt. It is then roll into a long cylinder or tube. Cylinders are cut into small 2 inch-3 inch pieces and rolled it into round disc. You can also make little snails with dough by coiling each single portion of the dough.  I found earlier method is easy. Make sure to use All -purpose flour liberally, otherwise it will be sticky mess.  Later it is pan-fried using 3 tablespoons of oil in medium heat with constant filliping and pressing.  End result will be crispy flaky pancakes.  I made ginger-soy dipping sauce to go with it.   They are usually served in wedges like pizza slices. I skipped that part and served as such.

My hubby and princess fell in love with it. They started eating it even while I am making.   I think these are best at when you serve it warm. Next day they lose their little charm, but are still delicious.  I made them a few times, and our love for it has increased every time after having a bite. So feel free to use up your scallions/ green onions in refrigerator by converting them into these pancakes. You won’t be disappointed with the outcome. 

Here goes the recipe.

What you need 

For pancake

For  dipping sauce

Let start making dough for the  pancake. Add  warm water to all purpose flour /maida to  form a smooth dough and set aside for about 20 minutes.

 While dough  is resting make  dipping sauce by combining  soy sauce, minced ginger, Worcestershire sauce,rice wine vinegar,  brown sugar, chili flakes,  and scallions/ green onion and set aside.  You can make ahead this  sauce .

When the dough is ready divide into two equal pieces. Each piece spread as thin as 1/6th inch circle in well floured  kitchen table.  Then brush  the circle with oil and sprinkle salt and green onions.

Then gradually starts rolling the dough with  green onion  from one end to other end. seem the sides. Cut the tube into 2-3 inch pieces, about 11 pieces from one half of the dough. Then press and roll  each small cut pieces into thin disc.

When you finish making disc, heat oil in the pan and start frying them in medium heat.Until  both sides become crisp  with brown spots.

 Enjoy with  dipping sauce.

After some bite

                                                            Print  Recipe

Chinese Scallion/Green Onion Pancakes with Ginger-Soy Dipping Sauce by Swathi  @ Zesty South Indian Kitchen Preparation time: 45 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Serves:4 Ingredients      For  Pancake 2 cup All purpose flour/Maida 1 cup  Green Onion (chopped  green parts only , about 5 no) 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon  Warm  Water 1/2  teaspoon Salt 3/4 -1 cup   Oil( I used  Canola Oil)                  For   Ginger-Soy Dipping Sauce 1 teaspoon Grated ginger 3/4 tablespoon Scallions/ Green onion 3/4 teaspoon Brown Sugar 1/4 teaspoon Chili flakes 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce 1/5  Soy Sauce 1/5 Rice Wine Vinegar       Directions In a  medium  bowl add flour and gradually add  warm water ( tablespoon or so)  and mix until it dough pulls away from the sides.Alternatively you can do it in food processor. Knead the dough for about 15 minutes and make it smooth and cover with damp kitchen towel and set aside for about 20 minutes. While dough is resting make the dipping sauce,  combine all the ingredients for sauce in a bowl and mix well and set aside. You can make the sauce one ahead too. After 20 minutes in well floured table divide the dough into two equal sized balls. while you are working with one ball of dough make sure to cover the other dough to prevent from sticking. Roll the dough into a  thin  circle for about ⅙ inch thickness. Brush the dough with a teaspoon of oil. Sprinkle salt  evenly all of the pancake. Sprinkle ½ cup  green onion/scallions all over the pancake.  Roll the pancake from one end like  rug and seem the ends. Cut the rolled  pancakes into 11  two to three inch pieces. Then spread each  pieces into small   5 inch disc. Dust with flour if you find they are sticking to the rolling pen. Heat 3 tablespoon of oil in  a skillet to medium heat, and add 4 pancake cook for about 2 minutes on one side or when they started getting brown spots flip the other side and cook for about another two minutes. Make sure to continuously press the dough for uniform cooking. Continue to fry the pancake until you finish the entire dough. Add oil if  needed. Remove from the heat and cut into wedges ( I didn't  do that part)  enjoy with dipping sauce. Variations Along with green onions you can all  sesame seeds.

I am  linking this delicious pancakes to Hearth and Soul blog Hop hosted here.