Crispy Chinese Sausage and Cilantro Pancakes
Source: Kristina Cho, Mooncakes and Milk Bread
Recipe Type: Entrees | Seasons: Winter
This recipe appears in Mooncakes and Milkbread by Kristina Cho (Harper Celebrate, 2021) and was demonstrated at the Foodwise Classroom on February 4, 2023.
These Chinese sausage and cilantro pancakes are a deviation from the beloved classic green onion pancake. I would take a plateful of crispy green onion pancakes topped with a big spoonful of chili oil over a stack of buttermilk pancakes any day. They should be salty, crispy, and a little greasy (in a good way). Some people like them thin and crunchy, bordering on cracker territory, while others prefer them thick and doughy. In my world, the perfect pancake is light and flaky on the outer rings and progressively doughier and chewier toward the center. That chewy center nugget of dough is the best piece to dunk into a generous amount of chili oil. Don’t stop at Chinese sausage and cilantro though—consider filling your pancakes with other tender herbs such as basil, dill, and tarragon, and maybe swap out the Chinese sausage for crisp bacon or crunchy fried garlic.
Makes 6
INGREDIENTS
300g (2½ cups) all purpose flour
½ teaspoon coarse salt
170g (3/4 cup) warm water
3 Chinese sausages, finely chopped
¼ cup canola or other neutral flavored oil, plus extra for brushing
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, finely chopped
PREPARATION
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and warm water. Mix with a pair of chopsticks or flexible spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Knead with your hands until you form a smooth ball, 6-8 min. Lightly brush a medium bowl with canola oil. Transfer dough to bowl, turn to coat, and cover with plastic wrap. Rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours. (The longer the dough rests at room temperature, the flakier the pancakes will be.)
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage, stirring occasionally, until the fat renders and sausage is crispy, 3-4 min. Transfer the sausage to a bowl to cool completely.
On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into six equal pieces, with scale if possible.
Lightly brush a wooden cutting board with canola oil. Roll one piece of dough into a roughly 6 x 10-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with some sesame oil and sprinkle some sausage and cilantro evenly over the surface.
Starting at a long edge, tightly roll up the dough into a 10-inch-long rope, pressing out trapped air. Starting at one end, form the rope into a coil shape, tucking the opposite end underneath at the end.
Set aside and repeat with remaining dough, sesame oil, sausage, and cilantro to form six pancakes. (Brush the cutting board with more canola oil as needed.) When you’ve formed the last pancake, cover the coils with a kitchen towel and allow them to rest for 15 minutes. (Don’t be tempted to skip this step, as the pancakes will not roll out as easily without a proper rest.)
Working with one piece at a time, gently flatten each coil with the palm of your hand, then roll into a 6-inch round. Place on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. If the pancake bursts in some places, don’t panic! That’s natural! It will still cook just fine.
In a heavy-bottomed skillet, heat the ¼ cup canola oil over medium-high until shimmering. Cook one pancake in the oil until the underside is golden brown, 1-2 min, then flip and cook the other side until golden brown, 1-2 min more. Place the pancake on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining pancakes and serve. (The pancakes are best eaten soon after frying.)
