Cong You Bing (Scallion Pancakes) Recipe
The exact origin and location of Cong you Bing are unclear, but it is believed to have been influenced by Indian communities in China due to its resemblance to Indian naan bread. Some even claim it played a role in the creation of modern pizza.According to the story, after returning to Italy from China, the Italian explorer Marco Polo missed Cong you Bing and instructed chefs to make a similar dough with fillings, which led to the invention of pizza. Cong you Bing, also known as Scallion Pancakes, is a popular flatbread from China, made from wheat flour and water with green onions. It’s enjoyed not only in China but also in Taiwan and has gained popularity in other parts of Asia, including Hong Kong, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as in Western countries.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour – 2 cups + 2 tbsp
- Hot water – 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp
- Vegetable oil – 1/3 cup
- All-purpose flour- 1/4 cup
- Scallion whites – 5
- Green onion or scallion, chopped – 2 cups
- Salt
- Oil for brushing and pan-frying
Instructions
- In a bowl, slowly stir the hot water into the flour.
- Wait until it cools down and knead it into a smooth dough
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a wet cloth and rest for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat oil over medium fire and fry the green onions until browned.
- Discard the green onion and keep the oil.
- Pour the ¼ cup of flour into a small bowl and slowly stir in the hot oil.
- Roll the dough out into a large rectangle.
- Sprinkle with salt and top with a layer of oil-flour mixture and then a layer of chopped scallion.
- Starting with the long end, roll the rectangle up into a log.
- Cut into 4 pieces and let rest for another 15 minutes.
- Roll each portion to a large pancake. The cut swirly end should be rolled down flat.
- Add about 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan and fry the flatbreads until golden brown on one side (takes 3-4 minutes over medium fire).
- Turnover and fry the other side for 3 minutes.
- After turning over, slightly press the center of the flatbread so they can fry evenly. Serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 241kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 150mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
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