Scallion Pancakes (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Healthy and the best scallion pancakes made of flour, green onion scallions and salt. This easy Chinese scallion pancake recipe is authentic and fail-proof!

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Scallion Pancakes (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

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Scallion Pancakes

Chinese scallion pancakes are healthy, vegan, crispy and delicious!

These pancakes are a type of savory flatbread made from dough, as opposed to western pancakes with a batter.

They are called cong you bing or 蔥油餅. You can find this delicacy as a popular street food in China and Taiwan.

They are commonly served as a breakfast, with soy milk, mantou, tea leaf eggs or soy sauce eggs.

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Other Recipes You Might Like

  • Korean Scallion Pancake (Pajeon)
  • Crepe Recipe
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Scallion Pancakes Recipe

This scallion pancakes recipe is from my best-selling cookbook “Easy Chinese Recipes” published in 2011.

Here are the recipe ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour.
  • Scallion. Scallion is sometimes called green onion.
  • Salt.
  • Oil.

How to Make Scallion Pancakes?

There are two basic methods of making scallion pancakes.

The first method is to make the plain dough, roll it out and then add the scallion and salt on the dough.

The second method is to combine the dough, scallion and salt together before rolling it out into pancakes.

My Chinese chef friend told me that both methods are authentic but the second method is a “shortcut” and great for beginners.

I like the second method as it’s easy and fail-proof.

Mixing the scallion with the dough infuses the dough with earthy aroma and fragrance of the green onion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Vegan?

Yes, all the ingredients are vegan. This recipe is 100% vegan.

Can I Freeze Scallion Pancakes?

I don’t recommend freezing the dough but you can freeze the pancakes after you make them.

Place them in a plastic bag and keep in the freezer. To serve, just reheat the pancakes in a microwave or toaster oven.

How to Make the Dipping Sauce?

Traditionally, there is no dipping sauce to go with the pancakes.

They are savory and tasty without any sauce.

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What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

This dish is best served as a breakfast or an appetizer. For a wholesome Chinese meal, I recommend the following recipes.

How Many Calories per Serving?

Each piece of scallion pancake is only 192 calories.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Soy Milk

Tea Leaf Eggs

Sichuan (Szechuan) Cold Noodles

Sweet Potato Mantou

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Scallion Pancakes

Healthy and the bestscallion pancakesmade of flour, green onion scallions and salt. This easy Chinese scallion pancake recipe is authentic and fail-proof!

4.48 from 92 votes

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By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 8 pieces

Prep 30 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (optional)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 - 4 stalks scallion or green onion (green parts only, trimmed and cut into small rounds, to yield about a tightly packed 1/3 cup or more)
  • 2 tablespoons oil (for brushing)
  • Extra all-purpose flour (for dusting and rolling)
  • Oil (for frying)

Instructions

  • Sift the all-purpose flour into a big bowl and then add the salt and chicken bouillon powder (if using) into the flour. Combine well and set aside.

  • Heat the water to a boil. Slowly add the water to the flour and knead the dough until it becomes soft, no longer sticky and the surface becomes smooth and shiny, about 15 minutes. If the dough is too dry, add 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of water to the dough. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes.

  • Add the scallions into the dough and combine well.

Step-by-Step on How to Make Scallion Pancakes:

  • On a flat and floured surface, divide the dough into 8 small dough balls, as pictured.

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  • Working with one dough ball at a time, roll it to a thin disc using a rolling pin. Dust the rolling pin with some all-purpose flour as you go. Brush the surface of the pancake with the oil.

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  • Roll the dough into a cylinder.

    Scallion Pancakes (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (11)

  • Coil it up like a snail.

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  • Dust the rolling pin with the flour and roll the snail-shape dough until flat, measuring about 6 inches (15cm) in diameter. Set the dough aside on a baking sheet. Repeat the steps above for the rest of the dough balls.

Step-by-Step on How to Fry Scallion Pancakes:

  • Add about 1/4 inch (6 mm) of oil into a stir-fry pan or skillet over moderately high heat. Transfer a piece of the pancake onto the pan or skillet.

  • Shallow fry each side of the pancake to a light golden brown, about 1 minute. Flip the pancake over and shallow fry the other side.

  • Add more oil, repeat the same for the remaining pancakes and serve immediately. They are best eaten with warm andhomemade soy milk.

Notes

If you don't use the chicken bouillon powder, then use a total 1 1/2 teaspoons salt for the dough instead of 1 teaspoon salt as stated in the recipe.

To jazz up the aroma of the pancake, you may add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil to the oil and brush onto the surface before rolling up into a cylinder.

You can also pan-fry the pancakes. Just grease your pan with a bit of oil and pan-fry both sides until they turn lightly brown with dark brown spots.

Course: Chinese Recipes

Cuisine: Breakfast

Keywords: scallion pancakes

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Scallion Pancakes

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 192Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Polyunsaturated Fat 5g

Sodium 297mg13%

Carbohydrates 31g10%

Fiber 1g4%

Protein 4g8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Scallion Pancakes (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

Why are my scallion pancakes tough? ›

It's not okay: To use hot water because it'll make the dough tougher. To not rest the dough in Step 1 because it'll make the dough harder to roll. To skip the slamming in Step 5 because the pancake will be dense rather than fluffy.

What is scallion pancakes made of? ›

Ingredients. All you need are some basic pantry ingredients to make great scallion pancakes – all-purpose flour, water, salt, vegetable oil, and green onion. To further boost the taste, you could add some ground Sichuan peppercorns to the filling, but it's totally OK to skip them.

How are you supposed to eat scallion pancakes? ›

They're served with a sweet soy-ginger-Sriracha dipping sauce and paired with a lightly dressed red cabbage-cucumber salad for a classic Chinese treat you won't be able to get enough of.

What culture are scallion pancakes from? ›

Scallion pancakes have long been part of the culture in China and Taiwan, where the flatbreads are commonly eaten as a street food snack.

How do you make pancakes less rubbery? ›

Over-mixing pancake batter develops the gluten that will make the pancakes rubbery and tough. For light, fluffy pancakes, you want to mix just until the batter comes together—it's okay if there are still some lumps of flour. Fat (melted butter) makes the pancakes rich and moist.

Why are my pancakes chewy and not fluffy? ›

Why are my pancakes rubbery and chewy? The most common cause for pancakes turning out dense is over mixing.

Why are scallion pancakes so good? ›

It's not as complicated as it sounds, and all the layers of oil create a laminated dough that retains the layers after it's been cooked. If youve never had a chewy, crispy, flaky scallion pancake, you owe it to yourself to find a place that does them justice, and order up a plateful of them.

What is a fun fact about scallion pancakes? ›

Here's a fun fact about the scallion pancake: according to legend, Marco Polo loved these pancakes. When he returned home to Italy, he had some chefs make a different type of pancake so he could have some more. But what he got was the ancestor of another dish we all know and love her in modern day America: pizza.

What are Chinese scallion pancakes called? ›

Cong you bing (cōngyóubǐng) (Chinese: 蔥油餅; pinyin: cōngyóubǐng; Wade–Giles: Ts'ung1-yu2-ping3; lit. 'scallion oil pancake'; Mandarin pronunciation [tsʰʊ́ŋjǒʊpìŋ]), also known as scallion pancake or "green onion pancake", is a Chinese savory, unleavened flatbread folded with oil and minced scallions (green onions).

How to eat scallion pancakes for breakfast? ›

Place the scallion pancake on top (the golden brown side facing down. Once the eggs have set, flip to the other side and add toppings. Let cook for 1-2 minutes then slide it onto a plate. Let cool a bit, cut in half and enjoy!

Do scallion pancakes have sugar? ›

Aside from the obvious – scallions, lots of scallions (8-10 stalks). The pancake itself is made from flour, sugar, yeast, salt, water, and sesame oil. The dipping sauce is soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, sugar, and water.

Can you reheat scallion pancakes? ›

Reheat scallion pancakes on a baking sheet in a preheated 400˚F oven for five minutes, or until heated through. Or heat a skillet on medium heat, add a thin layer of canola oil, and reheat for two minutes, flipping halfway through.

What are other names for scallion pancakes? ›

A scallion pancake, also known as a green onion pancake or spring onion pancake is a kind of pancake made with scallions. It is usually chewy, flaky, and savory. Examples include: Cōng yóu bǐng, a Chinese pancake made with scallions.

What is the difference between Chinese and Korean scallion pancakes? ›

While Chinese scallion pancakes are made primarily of flour, Korean scallion pancakes consist of flour, water, and eggs. To make Korean scallion pancakes, you want to prepare them just like you would with Chinese scallion pancakes. This is also a popular dish and is widely available in Korean restaurants.

What do Korean scallion pancakes taste like? ›

Korean scallion pancakes or pajeon, on the other hand, look and taste more like pancakes as we know them in the U.S. — except they're not topped off with syrup (via Maangchi). They're made with a runny batter and fried in a hot skillet with oil, resulting in a crisp pancake that is soft on the inside.

How do you fix tough pancakes? ›

How to fix it: If you made your first batch and the pancakes are rubbery, gummy, or flat, you can either toss the batter or turn them into waffles by adding 3 tablespoons of milk (up to ¼ cup) to the batter bowl to thin it out and make waffles.

Why do my pancakes come out rubbery? ›

Overmixing pancake batter causes the gluten to build up, making the cooked results rubbery discs instead of soft and fluffy pancakes. Solution: Stir the batter until the wet and dry ingredients are just incorporated. A few lumps are okay! Pancake batter should be thick enough, so it drips off the back of a spoon.

Why are my pancakes dense and chewy? ›

Overmixing the batter: If you mix the pancake batter too much, it can cause the gluten in the flour to become overdeveloped, resulting in a tough, dense texture that may resemble play-doh. To avoid this, only mix the batter until the dry ingredients are just moistened.

Why are my pancakes so chewy? ›

According to My Recipes, this can occur when you repeatedly press down on your pancakes as they're cooking. While many do this to give their pancakes a crispy outside and soft inside, all it actually does is remove all the necessary air. Over flipping can also contribute to this, Eat This, Not That says.

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