I think the fact that I know I can't get good Chinese food here has made me crave it more. I love me scallion pancakes but when confronted with a wilting bunch of cilantro and no scallions in sight, well, cilantro pancakes it turned into. Do not be put off by the 10 step process, it's really easier than it seems and this recipe is very flexible. I imagine you can substitute with other fragrant leafy greens and the flour to water ratio is simply 2 to 1.The dipping sauce we made is a simple mixture of fish sauce, lime juice, some sugar, crushed garlic cloves and crushed red pepper flakes, but we got a little fancier than needed. Some soy sauce with crushed red pepper will also be delicious with it.
CILANTRO PANCAKES
(makes 6 pancakes)
- 2 cups cilantro leaves and stems, chopped as finely as you have the patience for
- 1 tablespoon oil (I used sesame, but olive and vegetable oil will also work)
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3/4 cup hot, almost boiling water
- oil for pancake assembly and frying
1. Start with a mountain of chopped cilantro
2. Mix flour with salt and tablespoon of oil. Stir in hot water and stir to mix thoroughly. The texture of the dough will resemble mochi, elastic and a little sticky.
3. Dust work surface with flour, form dough into a ball and knead for a couple minutes, dusting with flour as needed.
4. Roll dough into a log and cut into 6 pieces.
5. Take one piece of dough, flatten it with the palm of your hand and roll out as thinly as possible with a rolling pin (or an empty wine bottle). It doesn't have to be perfectly round.
6. Pour about 1/2 teaspoon of oil and brush it all around on top of the disc. Scatter chopped cilantro on top and roll into a cigar.
7. Pinch one end of the cigar close and curl the cigar into a snail.
8. Dust the work surface and the top of the snail with flour. Flatten the snail with the palm of your hand and roll it out again with a rolling pin.
9. Repeat the process for all pieces of cut dough.
10. Pan fry over medium high heat one pancake at a time, turning after about 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Make sure to add more oil after each pancake to ensure that it doesn't stick to the pan.
3. Dust work surface with flour, form dough into a ball and knead for a couple minutes, dusting with flour as needed.
4. Roll dough into a log and cut into 6 pieces.
5. Take one piece of dough, flatten it with the palm of your hand and roll out as thinly as possible with a rolling pin (or an empty wine bottle). It doesn't have to be perfectly round.6. Pour about 1/2 teaspoon of oil and brush it all around on top of the disc. Scatter chopped cilantro on top and roll into a cigar.
7. Pinch one end of the cigar close and curl the cigar into a snail.
8. Dust the work surface and the top of the snail with flour. Flatten the snail with the palm of your hand and roll it out again with a rolling pin.
9. Repeat the process for all pieces of cut dough.10. Pan fry over medium high heat one pancake at a time, turning after about 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Make sure to add more oil after each pancake to ensure that it doesn't stick to the pan.
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it was good
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