Colorful and Beautiful Skewer Jeon (Korean Pan-fried Skewers)
Recommended for Holidays, Guest Parties, and Birthday Meals: Skewer Jeon Recipe
These skewer jeon require some effort but are incredibly delicious and visually appealing.
Skewer Jeon Ingredients- Thick ham (like Spam or Lunch Mate) 1 can
- Crab sticks or imitation crab meat 1 pack
- Pickled radish (danmuji) 1/2 pack
- Garlic scapes 1/2 bunch
- Pancake mix (buchim garu) about 1 cup
- Eggs 2-3
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients for the skewer jeon. Cut the ham into about 1cm thick slices. Cut the crab sticks to a similar length as the ham. Lightly squeeze out excess water from the pickled radish and cut it to a similar length as the ham and crab sticks. Trim the tough ends of the garlic scapes and cut them to a similar length. If the garlic scapes are long, you can cut them in half. Aim for all ingredients to be around 5cm long for a uniform and attractive appearance when skewered.
Step 2
Now it’s time to assemble the skewers. Thread the prepared ingredients onto toothpicks or skewers. A pleasing order is crab stick, ham, pickled radish, garlic scape, and then ham again. This arrangement helps the colors look harmonious and keeps the skewer sturdy. I personally like to finish with ham on both ends as it makes the skewer look neater and hold its shape better. (You can add a second garlic scape if you prefer).
Step 3
Coat the skewered ingredients evenly with pancake mix. Hold the skewer upright and tap it gently to ensure a thin, even layer of flour covers all sides. This flour coating helps the egg batter adhere better and contributes to a crispier jeon.
Step 4
Crack the eggs into a bowl, add a pinch of black pepper, and whisk well to create the egg batter. We will not add salt to the egg batter, as the ham and pickled radish are already quite savory. Ensure both sides of the skewered ingredients are thoroughly coated with the egg batter. Tilt the bowl slightly as you coat to help the egg form a thin, even layer.
Step 5
Heat a pan over medium-low heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Pan-fry the skewer jeon until golden brown on both sides. Once one side is nicely browned, flip it over and cook the other side until equally golden. Make sure the ingredients are cooked through and the pancake mix and egg batter are perfectly browned. Be mindful of the heat; cooking on high heat can burn the outside before the inside is cooked.
Step 6
Your colorful and delicious skewer jeon are ready! They look stunning and taste wonderful. These jeon are sure to be a hit at any holiday feast or party, rivaling even the main dishes. They are best enjoyed warm. This skewer jeon recipe is perfect for entertaining guests – give it a try!
