If you happen to love something golden, crispy, and a bit bit chewy, you’re going to like this Korean julienned potato pancake. Historically, gamja jeon is made with grated potatoes, however this model makes use of skinny matchstick fashion strips for additional crunch and texture. The result’s an attractive internet of crisp edges and mushy potato inside, completely satisfying and easy to make.

My mother and sister just lately tried a model of this at a restaurant and got here house raving about it.  So in fact, we needed to recreate it collectively. This one has that excellent mixture of crispy edges and mushy potato inside, and you can also make it two methods: with shrimp for a savory seafood twist or with carrots for a lightweight vegan model. Both manner, it’s fast, satisfying, and so scrumptious scorching off the pan.

What’s Gamja-chae Jeon

Gamja-chae jeon (감자채전) actually means “julienned potato pancake.” It’s a variation of the basic Korean gamja jeon (감자전), which is created from finely grated potatoes. As an alternative of grating, the potatoes are lower into skinny matchstick-like strips, then evenly coated in batter and pan-fried till golden and crispy.

Though each variations use the identical primary ingredient, the style and texture are fairly completely different. The grated model has a extra intense potato taste and a chewy texture, whereas this matchstick-style pancake seems lighter, crispier, and a bit extra delicate in taste.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crispy edges, mushy heart: This recipe provides you fantastically golden, crisp edges whereas conserving the potatoes tender inside – one of the best of each worlds.
• Two scrumptious variations: You get to decide on between a savory shrimp model filled with umami or a easy, vegan pleasant carrot model that’s contemporary and lightweight.
• Good method: Salting and rinsing the potatoes, then utilizing a bit starch water to seal gaps, makes the feel cohesive and fantastically crisp.
• Enjoyable twist: One in all my favourite components is a sprinkle of cheese on the finish for that “East meets West” contact that deepens the flavour in a very savory manner. However it’s completely non-obligatory. It nonetheless tastes nice with out the cheese.

What You’ll Want

Batter

Shrimp Model

• 2 medium potatoes (about 11.6 oz / 330 g), julienned
• 1/4 tsp high-quality salt
• 2 tsp (0.2 oz / 5 g) dried shrimp, finely floor
• 1 cup (5.3 oz / 150 g) shrimp, rinsed, squeezed dry in kitchen paper, and thinly sliced diagonally (about 0.5 cm / 0.2 inch thick)
• 1/2 tsp candy rice wine (mirin)
• 1 Tbsp tempura combine (Korean twigeum garu or Japanese-style)
• 2 Tbsp Korean pancake combine (buchim garu) or plain flour
• Cooking oil

Vegan Model

• 2 medium potatoes (about 11.6 oz / 330 g), julienned
• 1/4 medium carrot (about 1.8 oz / 50 g), julienned
• 1/4 tsp high-quality salt
• 1 Tbsp tempura combine (Korean twigeum garu or Japanese-style)
• 2 Tbsp Korean pancake combine (buchim garu) or plain flour
• Cooking oil

Starch Water (for filling gaps within the pan)

• 1/2 Tbsp potato starch
• 1/2 Tbsp water

Optionally available

* 1 Tbsp = 15 ml

Learn how to Make Gamja-chae Jeon

1. Put together the potatoes
Peel the potatoes and lower them into skinny matchstick strips. Don’t slice them too skinny. You need them to maintain a bit chunk. I used a mandoline slicer, which makes this step fast and even.

2. Rinse the starch
Place the julienned potatoes in a bowl and rinse below chilly operating water to take away extra starch. Drain properly.

3. Flippantly season the potatoes
Toss the drained potatoes with the salt, then allow them to sit whilst you put together the opposite elements. This evenly seasons the potatoes and helps soften them simply sufficient so that they prepare dinner via and brown evenly later. (If you happen to’re making the vegan model, add the carrots now and toss them along with the potatoes.)

4. Marinate the shrimp
If making the shrimp model, toss the contemporary shrimp with the candy rice wine (mirin) and let it marinate whilst you put together the remainder of the elements. This seasons the shrimp evenly and helps cut back any fishy scent or style.

5. Combine the batter
Shrimp model: Add the dried shrimp, marinated shrimp, tempura combine, and Korean pancake combine to the bowl of potatoes. Toss till the whole lot is evenly coated.

Carrot model (vegan): Add the carrot, tempura combine, and Korean pancake combine to the potatoes. Toss properly till evenly combined.

6. Cook dinner the pancake
Add a beneficiant drizzle of oil to a large non-stick frying pan and warmth it over medium warmth. Unfold the potato combination evenly throughout the pan so it covers the floor in a skinny, even layer. If you happen to discover small gaps, combine the potato starch and water collectively, then spoon a bit into the empty spots to assist bind.

7. Flip and crisp
Cook dinner till the underside turns golden brown and crisp, then fastidiously flip. Add a bit extra oil if wanted and prepare dinner the opposite facet till golden and cooked via.

8. End and serve
Slide the pancake onto a plate. Sprinkle with cheese, in the event you like, and luxuriate in scorching with a dipping sauce on the facet.

Cook dinner’s Observe & Ideas

• Don’t skip the rinse – Rinsing the julienned potatoes removes floor starch, which helps preserve the pancake from turning gummy. It additionally makes the strands prepare dinner up cleaner and fewer clumped.
• Starch water trick – The little slurry of potato starch and water is helpful for filling small gaps within the pancake and binding unfastened edges so it doesn’t disintegrate whenever you flip it.
• Shrimp vs. carrot model – The shrimp model is savory and hearty, whereas the carrot model is lighter and vegan-friendly. Each work fantastically, so select relying in your temper (or who you’re cooking for). My favourite, in fact, is the shrimp model — it has that wealthy umami taste I really like.
• Serving suggestion – Serve scorching, proper out of the pan, with a easy soy-vinegar dipping sauce on the facet (my dipping sauce recipe is right here in the event you want it). Imagine it or not, a sprinkle of shredded Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese provides much more savory depth. This pancake is nice as a snack with drinks or as a lightweight appetizer or meal.
• Storage – This pancake tastes greatest freshly made, when it’s crisp. Leftovers will be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 days. Reheat in a evenly oiled pan over medium warmth to convey again the crunch. It’s also possible to reheat it in an air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for a couple of minutes till scorching and crisp once more, so long as the items slot in a single layer.

Different Korean Pancake Recipes You Would possibly Like

• Kimchi Jeon (Kimchi Pancake) – Crispy, savory, and filled with tangy kimchi taste. It’s excellent for a comfy wet day.
• Pajeon (Inexperienced Onion Pancake) – A basic Korean pancake made with loads of inexperienced onions, crisp on the sides and mushy within the center.
• Crispy Korea Zucchini Pancakes – Gentle, crisp, and fantastically golden, this zucchini pancake shares the identical easy julienned fashion as Gamja-chae Jeon, turning humble greens into a wonderfully pan-fried facet you’ll wish to make time and again.

Batter

Starch Water (for filling gaps within the pan)

• Put together the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and lower them into skinny matchstick strips. Don’t slice them too skinny. You need them to maintain a bit chunk. I used a mandoline slicer, which makes this step fast and even.

• Rinse the starch. Place the julienned potatoes in a bowl and rinse below chilly operating water to take away extra starch. Drain properly.

• Flippantly season the potatoes. Toss the drained potatoes with the salt, then allow them to sit whilst you put together the opposite elements. This evenly seasons the potatoes and helps soften them simply sufficient so that they prepare dinner via and brown evenly later. (If you happen to’re making the vegan model, add the carrots now and toss them along with the potatoes.)

• Marinate the shrimp. If making the shrimp model, toss the contemporary shrimp with the candy rice wine (mirin) and let it marinate whilst you put together the remainder of the elements. This seasons the shrimp evenly and helps cut back any fishy scent or style.

• Combine the batter. Shrimp model: Add the dried shrimp, marinated shrimp, tempura combine, and Korean pancake combine to the bowl of potatoes. Toss till the whole lot is evenly coated. Carrot model (vegan): Add the carrot, tempura combine, and Korean pancake combine to the potatoes. Toss properly till evenly combined.

• Cook dinner the pancake. Add a beneficiant drizzle of oil to a large non-stick frying pan and warmth it over medium warmth. Unfold the potato combination evenly throughout the pan so it covers the floor in a skinny, even layer. If you happen to discover small gaps, combine the potato starch and water collectively, then spoon a bit into the empty spots to assist bind.

• Flip and crisp. Cook dinner till the underside turns golden brown and crisp, then fastidiously flip. Add a bit extra oil if wanted and prepare dinner the opposite facet till golden and cooked via.

• End and serve. Slide the pancake onto a plate. Sprinkle with cheese, in the event you like, and luxuriate in scorching with a dipping sauce on the facet.

The vitamin info proven is an estimate offered by a web-based vitamin calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative choice to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation.

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