Crispy Kimchi Pancakes With Shrimp Recipe

By
Emily and Matt Clifton
Emily and Matt Clifton: Contributing Writers at Serious Eats
Emily and Matt Clifton are recipe developers, photographers, and cookbook authors. Their two cookbooks are Cork and Knife (2019) and The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook (2021).
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated March 12, 2019
Kimchi_Pancakes_Shrimp_20170320_3-edit.jpg
Photograph: Emily and Matt Clifton

Why It Works

  • Using the kimchi brine in the batter enhances the pancakes' spicy-tart flavor.
  • Chopping the shrimp into small pieces guarantees they cook through in time.

These kimchi pancakes are packed with bits of spicy kimchi and fresh plump shrimp, while kimchi brine in the batter adds extra spicy-tart flavor. They make a fantastic appetizer, snack, or light dinner.

Recipe Details

Crispy Kimchi Pancakes With Shrimp Recipe

Active 20 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 15 pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup (65g) rice flour

  • 1 1/2 cups (350ml) ice cold water, plus more as needed

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) kimchi brine plus 1 cup drained kimchi (8 ounces, 225g), coarsely chopped

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 3 scallions, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/2-inch lengths, plus more chopped scallions for garnish

  • 8 ounces (225g) raw shrimp, peeled, de-veined, and roughly chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

  • 1/2 teaspoon (3g) kosher salt

  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) soy sauce

  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) rice vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) toasted sesame oil

  • 1 teaspoon (4g) sugar or honey

  • 1 teaspoon (3gtoasted sesame seeds

  • Peanut, grapeseed, or other neutral oil, for frying

  • Quick-pickled watermelon radishes, for serving

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, rice flour, water, kimchi brine, and egg; the mixture should be the consistency of slightly lumpy pancake batter. Stir in the chopped kimchi, scallion segments, shrimp, and salt. Add a little more water if needed. Set batter aside.

  2. In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar or honey, and sesame seeds. Set dipping sauce aside.

  3. Preheat oven to its lowest heat setting. In a large skillet, heat about 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet and spread it into a 4-inch circle. Repeat until pan is full but not crowded. (Alternatively, you can make one large 8-inch pancake per batch). Cook until the edges turn golden and crispy, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip pancakes, add a little more oil, if needed, and cook for about another 2 to 3 minutes until cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding oil as needed.

  4. Arrange cooked pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet and keep in warm oven until ready to serve. Serve whole or cut into wedges, garnished with scallions, and with dipping sauce and quick-pickled radishes on the side.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
123Calories
7gFat
12gCarbs
4gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15
Amount per serving
Calories123
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 397mg17%
Total Carbohydrate 12g4%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 4mg21%
Calcium 25mg2%
Iron 1mg5%
Potassium 140mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

More Serious Eats Recipes