Crispy Napa Cabbage Pancake (Baechoo Jeon)
Three Delicious Dishes Using Napa Cabbage Featured on ‘Matnamui Kwangjang’: Napa Cabbage Canapés, Cabbage Pancakes, and Cabbage Leaf Salad with Chef Baek Jong-won’s Recipe
Enjoy the wonderfully crisp and subtly sweet flavor of young napa cabbage! This recipe offers a delightful way to use a whole head of cabbage to create three impressive side dishes for your dinner table. Based on Chef Baek Jong-won’s special recipes featured on ‘Matnamui Kwangjang’ and brought to you by ‘Sesange Modeun Recipe’ and ‘Mankye Recipe,’ you’ll learn to easily and deliciously prepare napa cabbage canapés, golden-brown cabbage pancakes, and a fresh cabbage leaf salad. Say goodbye to your dinner side dish dilemmas!
Napa Cabbage Canapés- 1 head young napa cabbage
- 1 can tuna, drained
- 1/4 onion, finely minced
- 5 pieces pickled radish (danmuji), finely minced
- 2 imitation crab sticks (surimi), shredded
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Korean green chili pepper (cheongyang chili), finely chopped
- A little wasabi paste (optional)
Napa Cabbage Pancake (Baechoo Jeon)- Young napa cabbage
- Pancake mix (buchim garu)
- Water
- Pinch of salt
- Young napa cabbage
- Pancake mix (buchim garu)
- Water
- Pinch of salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
[Making Napa Cabbage Canapés] First, let’s prepare the filling for the canapés. Finely julienne the onion, pickled radish, and imitation crab sticks. If julienning is too much work, you can also mince them finely.
Step 2
Finely chop the Korean green chili pepper for a touch of spice. Prepare the young napa cabbage by cutting it into bite-sized pieces. If the leaves are very large, cut them smaller.
Step 3
In a deep bowl, combine the drained tuna, minced onion, pickled radish, and shredded imitation crab sticks. Add 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise for creaminess, 1 tablespoon of sugar for a hint of sweetness, and a pinch of black pepper for aroma. Mix everything well until evenly combined.
Step 4
Generously spoon the prepared tuna salad mixture onto the prepared young napa cabbage leaves. Finally, garnish with the finely chopped green chili pepper and a dab of wasabi paste, if desired. Your crisp and delicious napa cabbage canapés are ready!
Step 5
[Making Cabbage Pancakes] Now, let’s make the savory and delicious cabbage pancakes. For the white stem parts of the cabbage, gently tap them with the back of a knife. This will make them tender when cooked and help them absorb flavors better.
Step 6
In another bowl, mix pancake mix and water in a 1:1 ratio to create the batter. Aim for a consistency that’s neither too thin nor too thick. Season with a pinch of salt to taste.
Step 7
Dip the tapped cabbage pieces into the batter, ensuring they are evenly coated. It’s important to have a thin layer of batter on the cabbage leaves.
Step 8
Heat a pan with a generous amount of oil over medium-low heat. Place the batter-coated cabbage into the hot pan. Cook, flipping occasionally, until both sides are golden brown and crispy. Your delicious cabbage pancakes are complete!
Step 9
[Making Cabbage Leaf Salad] Finally, let’s make a fresh cabbage leaf salad. Cut the napa cabbage leaves and chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Wash the oyster mushrooms and separate them into individual strands.
Step 10
Preheat a pan and add 1-2 tablespoons of perilla oil (deulgireum). Sauté the chicken breast until it’s lightly browned. Once cooked, set the chicken aside.
Step 11
Add a little more perilla oil to the same pan. Add the cut napa cabbage and the separated oyster mushrooms. Sauté them briefly until the cabbage leaves are slightly wilted but still retain some crispness. This is key to a good salad texture.
Step 12
Once the cabbage and mushrooms are lightly sautéed, add the cooked chicken breast back into the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Be careful not to overcook, as this can make the vegetables mushy.
Step 13
Serve the warm cabbage leaf salad nicely on a plate. Drizzle with Caesar dressing, if desired, for a fresh and healthy cabbage leaf salad. All three dishes are now ready!