Ryu Soo-young’s Thousand Won Perilla Leaf Pancakes
Easy Perilla Leaf Recipe: Making Chef Ryu Soo-young’s Budget-Friendly Perilla Jeon
For all perilla leaf lovers, here’s Chef Ryu Soo-young’s incredibly simple and budget-friendly perilla leaf pancake recipe from the show ‘Pyeonstorang’. Enjoy this crispy outside, tender inside delicacy right at home.
Main Ingredients- 10 perilla leaves
- 1 cup (200ml) pancake mix
- 1 cup (200ml) cold water, plus 2 tbsp extra water
- 3 pinches of salt
- Generous amount of cooking oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare 10 fresh perilla leaves. Do not trim the stems; leave them as they are. Rinse each leaf thoroughly under running water, gently rubbing both sides, about three times.
Step 2
After washing, place the perilla leaves on a sieve. Gently pat them to remove as much water as possible. It’s crucial to ensure the leaves are well-drained; excess water can cause oil to splatter and the batter to separate from the leaves during frying.
Step 3
In a large bowl, add 1 cup (200ml) of pancake mix.
Step 4
To the pancake mix, add 1 cup (200ml) of cold water and 3 pinches of salt. Using fine-grained salt like sea salt or table salt will help the seasoning distribute evenly.
Step 5
Roughly mix the batter using a fork or whisk. The batter should have a consistency similar to yogurt, slightly thick. If it’s too thick, gradually add the extra 2 tablespoons of water until you achieve the desired yogurt-like consistency.
Step 6
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Chef Ryu Soo-young recommends using enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan for a crispy fried result.
Step 7
Dip each well-drained perilla leaf into the batter, ensuring both sides are generously coated. Make sure the batter covers the entire leaf evenly for the best texture.
Step 8
Carefully place the batter-coated perilla leaves into the hot oil, one by one. Fry them undisturbed for the first 1 minute and 30 seconds. (Tip: While the recommended time is 1 minute 30 seconds, monitor closely as cooking time can vary with stove heat. If you smell burning or notice the top batter becoming matte, flip it sooner.)
Step 9
The exact cooking time will vary depending on your stove’s heat. It’s best to flip the pancake when the top layer of batter appears slightly dry and matte. Flipping too early might cause the batter to peel off, so ensure the bottom side is golden brown before flipping.
Step 10
After flipping, continue to fry until the other side is also golden brown and crispy. Ensure both sides are cooked evenly.
Step 11
Once both sides are a beautiful golden brown and delightfully crispy, turn off the heat. Your Ryu Soo-young’s ‘Thousand Won’ Perilla Leaf Pancakes are ready! You can adjust the cooking time to achieve your preferred level of crispiness and color.
