Ji Dan Bing (Chinese Breakfast Pancake)
A delicious and authentic sauces recipe for Ji Dan Bing (Chinese Breakfast Pancake), prepared with traditional seasonings and techniques.
Ingredients
- • 150 g (1 cup) plain flour
- • 1/2 teaspoon salt
- • 255 ml (1 cup + 1 tablespoon) water
- • 3 spring onions (sliced)
- • 1 tablespoon peanut oil ((or melted butter))
- • Oil spray (for cooking)
- • 4 eggs
- • Toasted black sesame seeds (for garnish)
- • Sweet bean sauce ((or hoisin sauce))
- • Chilli garlic sauce (for spiciness if preferred (Optional))
- • 6 pieces green leaf ((or romaine lettuce))
- • 6 hot dogs (pan fried (or bacon strips))
- • Shredded carrots and cucumber
- • Sliced spring onions (for garnish)
Preparation Steps
Combine the plain flour and salt in a medium size bowl. Stir a few times to mix well. Slowly pour in the water while mixing, until it forms a smooth, runny batter. Add the peanut oil. Mix until fully incorporated. The batter should be quite runny, but not as runny as a crepe batter.
Spray (or drizzle) a very small amount of oil onto a medium-sized or small nonstick frying pan. Use paper towels to wipe the pan so the oil is very thinly coated.(*Footnote 1) Heat over medium heat until just hot and not smoking hot.
Add about 1/3 cup of the batter to the pan. Immediately swirl the pan so the batter will spread out evenly into a thin round shaped pancake.(*Footnote 2)
When the pancake is just set, crack an egg onto the centre of it. Use a spoon to break the egg and spread it over the pancake. When the egg is still runny, sprinkle it with spring onions and black sesame seeds. Cook over medium-low heat until the egg is mostly set and the bottom of the pancake just turns golden on the edges. Carefully flip the pancake. Cook for 20 to 30 seconds, until the egg is fully cooked. Transfer the pancake to a plate. Keep cooking the rest of the pancakes. Note, you might need to lower the heat while making the rest of the pancakes or remove the pan from the heat occasionally when adding the batter. If the pan gets too hot, the batter will set too quickly and will be difficult to spread out into a thin pancake.