Scallion pancakes (cong you bing)
Flaky, chewy pan-fried flatbreads layered with spring onion and oil
Cong you bing are sold from griddles on street corners across northern China, and every Shanghai breakfast stall has its own version. The dough is rolled thin, brushed with a flour-and-oil paste, scattered with spring onion, rolled up like a snail and flattened again, so it fries into dozens of crisp, chewy layers. Children love tearing them apart. Chef's tip: make the dough with hot water; it scalds some of the flour so the pancakes stay soft and roll out without springing back.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the dough
For the layers
To cook
Dipping sauce
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pour ½ cup just-boiled water over 10 ½ oz plain flour and stir with chopsticks into shaggy flakes. Add ¼ cup cold water and knead for 5 minutes into a soft, smooth dough. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
Step 2: Make the paste: stir 3 tbsp vegetable oil into 2 tbsp plain flour with 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground white pepper.
Step 3: Divide the dough into 4. Roll one piece into a very thin rectangle, about 30 x 20 cm. Spread with a quarter of the paste and scatter with a quarter of 6 spring onions.
Step 4: Roll up from the long side into a rope, then coil the rope into a snail and tuck the end underneath. Rest 5 minutes, then press and roll it into an 18 cm round. Repeat.
Step 5: Heat a quarter of 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Fry each pancake for 2–3 minutes a side until golden and blistered, pressing gently. Common mistake: frying over a high heat; the outside burns before the inner layers cook through.
12 minStep 6: As each one comes out, scrunch it from the sides with two spatulas to separate the layers. Cut into wedges and serve hot, with 2 tbsp light soy sauce and 1 tbsp Chinkiang black vinegar mixed for dipping if you like.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does scallion pancakes (cong you bing) take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 35 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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