Green Onion Pancakes 蔥油餅

In celebration of Chinese New Year, here's a recipe for one of my favorite Chinese snacks of all time... green onion pancakes. When I was in junior high/high school, my mom taught me how to make the "Chexican" version (layers of tortillas spread with oil, sprinkled with chopped green onions and salt). It's good-- but after moving to Taiwan, it's not quite good enough. That is why-- when I wasn't able to get any on this last trip to Taipei-- I turned to the internet for a recipe that I could try in my own kitchen. The original recipe was all in Chinese (and metric units), so I'm still working out the kinks. But here it is for those of you who miss Taiwan like I do...

Green Onion Pancakes 蔥油餅

INGREDIENTS

(DOUGH)
3C all-purpose flour
1½t salt
1½C boiling water
¾C ice water

(FILLING)
6 stalks of green onions, chopped
1t salt
½C oil
2t sesame oil
½t pepper
sesame seeds (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. (DOUGH) In a large bowl, sift flour and salt. Add boiling water. Stir quickly until it forms clumps of dough. Add ice water. Stir until dough is ready to knead. Knead, adding additional flour as needed, until dough becomes soft and smooth. Cover with a wet towel and set aside for 20 minutes.
   
   
2. (FILLING) In a small bowl (do not use plastic), mix green onions and salt. In a small pot, heat the oil and sesame oil, then pour into green onions and salt mixture. Add pepper.
   
   
3. Divide dough into six equal parts. Roll on floured surface into a thin rectangle. Spread ~1/8 to 1/4C filling onto the dough with a pastry brush. Roll the dough into a long skinny roll and then wrap the roll into a tight circle (like a cinnamon roll). Cover with a wet towel for another 20 minutes. Repeat with each pancake.
   
   
4. Roll dough (with filling) into a round pancake and garnish with sesame seeds. Heat 2T of oil in a pan and fry both sides until it begins to show a little color. *Add 1T of water into the pan and cover with a lid until the sizzling dies down. Add 1T of oil and fry until both sides are golden brown.
   
   *Adding water will produce a pancake that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

YIELD: 6 pancakes

Enjoy-- and make sure you tell me if you try it! Here's to the Year of the Tiger!