Scallion Pancakes (Cong You Bing)

Scallion Pancakes, or Cong You Bing, are Chinese pancakes that are a savory flat bread filled with green onions and sesame oil. I used to order these a lot when I was living in Boston, but I never thought to make them myself.  They just seemed like something that would be too intricate and difficult to make.

However, I quickly lost that mentality and realized how easy they are to recreate in the kitchen! Although I do not eat these as often anymore (they are not exactly the healthiest things to eat), when I am in the mood for a little treat, I'll whip these babies up!

Scallion Pancakes (Cong You Bing)

Ingredients:
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-1 cup boiling water
-1 cup thinly sliced scallions (green onions)
-Sesame oil
-Canola/Vegetable oil
-Salt to taste

Directions:
In a bowl or mixer, blend the flour and water together until it all comes together to form a ball.  Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead for a few minutes until you have a nice smooth ball of dough.

Place the dough in a bowl, cover the bowl with a damp cloth/towel, and let the dough rest for about 30 minutes.

After the dough has rested, turn the dough out on a floured surface and divide into four pieces.  Using a rolling pin, take one section of dough and roll out into a flat disk like a pizza.  Brush the top of the disk with sesame oil (you can use canola oil if you are in a pinch) and sprinkle with a little salt and scallions.

Very carefully, roll the disk into a log and then turn it into a spiral (see pictures below).

Once the dough is rolled in a spiral, roll it out again to flatten it out.  Repeat with the remaining sections of dough.

Once all of your pancakes have been formed, heat a little (I just eye it - but roughly 1-2 tablespoons) canola and/or vegetable oil in a skillet.  Once the oil has heated, place a pancake in the oil and cook on one side for 2 minutes.  Flip and cook on the reverse side for another 1-2 minutes.  Remove the pancake from the pan and let drain and cool on a paper towel lined cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining pancakes.

Cut into pie/pizza slices and serve immediately as they are best warm.  You can dip these bad boys in soy sauce, a ginger sauce, eat plain, or you can even jazz up plain soy sauce by adding in some scallions and ginger too! No matter how you eat it, just enjoy it!

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