These scallion (shallot/spring onion) pancakes are inspired by my recent trip to Taiwan. I am a bit of a lover of the old shallot pancake and have definitely eaten more than my fair share. Way way more!
Before my trip to Taiwan my knowledge of scallion pancakes began and finished with the Chinese style ones, which are very common in Australia. The dough is rolled in a particular way to create layers and within those layers you will find delicious green scallions, or as we Aussies call them, shallots or green onions. They are rolled flat and round like a pancake and then cooked on a flat hot surface with a little bit of oil.
As Taiwanese food has a big Chinese influence it is no surprise that these pancakes are a popular street food. There are stalls at the local night markets churning them out in the look and style that I have come to know and love.
So it was a great surprise when we stopped to grab some scallion pancakes from a street vendor and I saw them being deep fried. Our guide Walter had recommended this particular stall and thank the scallion pancake gods he did.
These scallion pancakes were a very tasty alternative to what I had enjoyed in the past. The scallions/shallots/green onions weren’t rolled through the pancake, but instead placed on top. You could have the pancake with or without egg. The whole thing is then deep fried. Once cooked you are invited to smear your pancake with your choice of sweet chilli sauce, chilli sauce or soy sauce.
As soon as I returned home I hit Mr Google and tried to find a recipe for these style of pancakes. Couldn’t find a single recipe that was prepared this way.
This is where 30 years of cooking experience and knowledge came in handy. If I couldn’t find the recipe, then I was determined to come up with something on my own. And I must say I am extremely happy with the results.
Mine taste very similar, the only thing that has let me down is that they aren’t as ‘puffy’ as the ones we ate in Taiwan. They still have a little blistering puff, but not as impressive as the ones in the photos above.
They are delicious and I will be making them again, and again, but I will also be tweaking the recipe (as I do). I feel I can do those street side pancakes better justice, but until I perfected the scallion pancake recipe, I am more than happy to scoff these babies.
Do they use egg white to get the shallots to stick to the top of the pancake? No idea, but I thought it was a good idea, and took the method from my prawn toast recipe. They most certainly don’t add black sesame seeds, but I happen to like them, so feel free to add or not.
I am pretty sure the dough they were using in Taiwan didn’t have egg yolks added. I decided to add them to my dough as the egg yolks were sitting there rather lonely after I used the egg whites for the shallot topping.
I love mine with chilli. A good chilli sauce with lots of chopped chilli in it. Yes, I do love my chilli.
Make sure that you drain them really well. Oil will collect around the shallots, so some absorbent paper won’t go astray. They are best eaten just cooked, hot right out of the pan. They do reheat quite well, but they will be slightly crisper. I have frozen some as well as I think they will bounce back quite nicely once defrosted and reheated.
Calling for help! If you happen to have or know of a traditional recipe in the style of the shallot pancakes above, would love you to share it with me.
Sara xxx
Belly Rumbles travelled to and around Taiwan with much thanks to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
Printable Recipe
Taiwanese Scallion Pancakes
Ingredients
- 500 grams plain flour
- 250 ml boiling water
- 125 ml cold water
- 2 egg yolks lightly beaten
- pinch of salt
- 150 grams finely sliced scallions shallots/green onions
- black sesame seeds optional
- 2 egg whites lightly beaten
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Place flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over the flour and mix in with a fork. It will be hot, so please be careful.
- Then mix in egg yolks and cold water.
- Turn dough out on to a floured surface and knead until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.
- Place some plastic wrap over the dough while you prepare the shallot mixture.
- In a medium size bowl add scallions and egg whites, mix until well combined and slightly frothy.
- Divide dough into 10 even portioned balls.
- Roll a piece of dough out to about a 10-15cm round, you don’t need to be perfect. Top the dough with a good amount of the scallion mixture. Sprinkle with sesame sees if you are using.
- Cook pancakes in a wok, which has been filled a ⅓ of the way up with vegetable oil. You know the oil is hot enough when a small piece of dough sizzles when it hits the oil.
- Place a pancake shallot side down in the wok. Cook until golden and bubbly and then flip over and cook the other side. Remove from wok once cooked and drain very well on absorbent paper.
- Eat immediately with your choice of chilli sauce, sweet chilli sauce or soy sauce.
Oven Temperatures
All oven temperatures are fan forced.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Micah
Thanks, Sara! I realize that this is an old post, but wondering if you have made any improvements to the recipe? I've also been scouring the internet for an exact replica of the ones I had in Taiwan. It looks like I went to the exact same vendor that you visited on your trip, so I hope these are close!
Thanks!
Sara McCleary
Hi Micah
The ones in Taiwan are so different to the recipes you generally see. I haven't played around with this recipe since the publish date (nearly a decade ago, OMG!!!). If you give them a go, I hope they are close to what you enjoyed on your trip.
Cheers, Sara
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal
These look sooo good! I really enjoyed your photos of them being made in Taiwan!
Sara
I think looking back on the photos as well as experiencing them made the ones I made taste even better.
Prash @ YummilyYours
I am so intrigued! Definitely on my "to-try" list
Sara
Glad to intrigue, they are worth having ago at making.
Ciao Florentina
I am seriously drooling over my keyboard. Excuse me please. These remind me of the fried pizza dough I would get at the market with mom on Fridays, drenched in chimichurri and parm. Ultimate comfort food !!
Sara
Oh my lord those fried pizza doughs sound amazing.
mira
These look amazing! Definitely need to try them! Pinning!
Sara
Awe thanks Mira
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Sara, these look fabulous! Must try them for my next party!
Sara
Thank you Jean. they would be great for a party.
Amanda@ChewTown
I love a shallot pancake... yours look delicious and I'm loving them Taiwanese style. They are Scotty's fav so I'll need to whip up a batch of these methinks.
Sara
Enjoy when you whip.
john | heneedsfood
Oh yes. YES. YES. YES. YES! I've only eaten the Chinese ones, here in Oz and at night markets in Yiwu, China. Love how they puff up like that!
Sara
I have eaten the Chinese ones too, and I love them. This is the first time I had seen them this way, and wow, frigging delicious
Helen | Grab Your Fork
Um what time should I come over? These look amazing!
Sara
Thank you and you are welcome any time you want x
Tania @My Kitchen Stories
God they look delicious Sara
Sara
Thanks so much Tania x
Nancy | Plus Ate Six
Wow great effort! Luckily for me I walk outside my compound and there's a stall across the road making these every day - and yes they are deep fried although I've seen them shallow fried in lard too.
Sara
Lucky you! The shallow fried in lard sounds interesting, and definitely worth trying.
Gourmet Getaways
Savoury pancakes are a perfect tasty snack. Gotta love this recipe of yours, mmm!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Sara
Thanks guys
THE HUNGRY MUM
show me a food that can't be improved by being deep fried and I will show you ... ummm... not sure how to finish this sentence but you get it! Taiwan looks amazing, can't wait to see more of your adventure-influenced posts.
Sara
More Taiwan inspired recipes on their way.