Crispy Bean Sprout Pancake (Kongnamuljeon) by Chef Baek
Mastering Baek Jong-won’s Crispy Bean Sprout Pancake Recipe
Do you ever get tired of eating plain vegetables and crave something crispy? While looking through Chef Baek Jong-won’s YouTube channel, I discovered his recipe for ‘Kongnamuljeon’ (bean sprout pancake). I was curious if the bean sprouts, especially the little ‘heads’, would cook through when fried. So, I decided to try Chef Baek’s version. This recipe delivers an incredibly satisfying crispiness on the outside and a delightful texture within. Prepare to be amazed!
Main Ingredients- Bean sprouts (1 bowl, approx. 150-200g)
- Green chili peppers, 2
- Red chili pepper, 1
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the bean sprouts thoroughly and drain them well. Remove the stems from the green and red chili peppers, slit them lengthwise, remove the seeds, and then finely chop them. Chopping them finely helps the flavors meld better.
Step 2
Place the prepared bean sprouts and chopped chili peppers into a large bowl.
Step 3
Add the pancake mix (buchim garu) and tempura powder (twigim garu) to the bowl with the bean sprouts and chili peppers. Adding tempura powder is key to achieving an extra crispy texture.
Step 4
Add the saeu-jeot (salted fermented shrimp). This adds a wonderful umami depth. If you don’t have saeu-jeot, a tiny amount of soy sauce or fish sauce can be a substitute.
Step 5
Finally, pour in the water and mix everything together well. The batter should coat the ingredients evenly without being too runny. Adjust the water amount slightly depending on the moisture content of your bean sprouts.
Step 6
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, spoon portions of the bean sprout mixture onto the pan, shaping them into palm-sized rounds. Be careful not to make them too thick.
Step 7
Once the underside is golden brown and crispy, carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side until it’s also golden brown and crispy. Make sure to cook them long enough so that even the bean sprout heads are cooked through and crunchy. Your Chef Baek-inspired crispy bean sprout pancake is now ready! For an extra touch of flavor, serve with a side of soy sauce dipping sauce.
