Crispy Korean Spring Onion Pancake (Pajeon)

Introduction

Crispy Korean Spring Onion Pancake, known as Pajeon, is a savory fan-favorite that delivers irresistible crunch, a delicate onion aroma, and a golden exterior that’s hard to resist. Its simple preparation, vibrant flavor, and beautiful green flecks make it a go-to for speedy weeknight dinners, brunches, or impressive appetizers. Quick to make and perfect for sharing, Pajeon turns inexpensive ingredients into something truly special.

Pajeon: Why This Pancake Stands Out

What sets Pajeon apart is its ultra-crispy edges, chewy soft center, and the subtle sweetness of scallions balanced by a salty-savory dipping sauce. Unlike Western-style pancakes, the batter is thin, resulting in pancakes that strike an addictive balance between crunch and chew—a crowd-pleaser at potlucks or as a satisfying light meal.

Mixing the Batter for Maximum Crispiness

For authentic crispiness, the batter uses ice-cold water and a touch of cornstarch along with plain flour. This prevents gluten from forming, ensuring that each bite delivers crunch, not chewiness. To enhance the flavor, you can add a few slices of hot chili or a pinch of seafood (like shrimp or squid), but classic Pajeon shines with just spring onions.

Frying Your Pajeon to Perfection

A hot, generously oiled pan is key for that golden, crispy finish. Arrange the spring onions neatly in the batter for visual appeal, and avoid crowding the pan—this ensures even heat, consistent browning, and the iconic pancake texture. Serve immediately for best results, but leftovers can be gently reheated until re-crisped.

Serving Suggestions for an Irresistible Pajeon Experience

Cut your pancakes into wedges and serve with a simple dipping sauce: soy sauce, rice vinegar, a touch of sesame oil, and sliced chili pepper for gentle heat. Pair with a crisp salad or pickled vegetables to balance out the flavors and add extra crunch.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

One batch of this Pajeon recipe yields roughly 2 large pancakes or 4 servings as a snack or appetizer. Each serving contains approximately 150–180 calories, depending on the oil used and additional mix-ins—making it a reasonably light yet instantly gratifying treat.

Crispy Korean Spring Onion Pancake (Recap)

Pajeon delivers an irresistible crispy-chewy texture and vibrant scallion flavor. Its simple ingredient list and fast cook time make it perfect for busy weeknights or gatherings, guaranteeing satisfied smiles all around.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Prepare the dipping sauce. Combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl; stir well and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and sugar. Crack in the egg and gradually add ice-cold water, stirring to form a thin batter. Adjust water as needed—the batter should lightly coat the back of a spoon.
3. Add the spring onion pieces to the batter, ensuring they’re well coated.
4. Heat a generous layer of oil in a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Pour half the batter into the pan, spreading out the spring onions evenly. Use a spatula or tilt the pan to form a thin pancake.
6. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown. Carefully flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until both sides are crisp.
7. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel. Repeat with remaining batter.
8. Slice pancakes into wedges. Serve immediately with prepared dipping sauce.

Weekly Meal Planning

Crispy Spring Onion Pancake (Pajeon) is ideal for weekly meal rotation. Save and schedule this recipe to create custom meal plans and generate a smart shopping list that combines ingredients from all your planned dishes—saving you time and money.

Planning Benefits:

– Consolidates ingredient quantities for multiple recipes, reducing waste
– Organizes grocery shopping lists by section for faster trips
– Prevents duplicate purchases and missing essentials
– Makes it simple and efficient to prep for the whole week

Pro tip: When planning several Asian-inspired recipes, schedule your meals and see how ingredients like scallions, eggs, and dipping sauce elements overlap—making pantry management much easier.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Enjoy the unbeatable flavor and satisfying crunch of homemade Pajeon, made even easier with helpful meal planning and smart shopping tools!