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Scallion Oil Thin Pancake — Home-style recipe hero image
Home-styleEasy 28 min serves 2 Vegetarian-ok

Scallion Oil Thin Pancake

葱油薄饼 · cōng yóu bó bǐng

家庭快手版 · Home version: Unlike restaurant versions with laminated fat layers, this omits lard and uses only toasted sesame oil — lighter, crisper, and achievable with one bowl and one pan.

My aunt in Shanghai’s French Concession made these every rainy afternoon. She kept a jar of toasted sesame oil infused with scallion trimmings — ‘the secret breath of the pancake,’ she called it.

H

Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen

Home-cooking research team

Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29

Quick & EasyVegetarian

Ingredients

  • all-purpose flour中筋面粉🛒 local200 g
  • toasted sesame oil香油🏮 asian30 ml
  • scallion小葱🛒 local40 g
  • boiling water沸水🛒 local120 ml

all-purpose flour: Standard all-purpose flour works best — no substitutions needed.

boiling water: Water must be freshly boiled — not just hot — to properly gelatinize starch for tenderness.

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Instructions

  1. 1Pour boiling water into flour in a heatproof bowl. Stir with chopsticks until shaggy clumps form. Add remaining cool water (30 ml) gradually, kneading into soft, pliable dough. Rest 15 minutes covered.

    烫面+凉水面,柔韧不粘

    🔍 Look for 15 分钟 · 15 minutes

    Visual: 面团成团,手指略沾粉但不粘手,也不干裂。Dough is cohesive but leaves slight residue on fingers — not sticky, not dry.

    You know it's right when: 表面湿润均匀,无干粉斑。Surface feels uniformly moist, no dry patches.

  2. 2Roll dough into 20-cm round. Brush evenly with 15 ml sesame oil, then scatter scallions. Roll tightly into log, coil into spiral, then flatten gently into 15-cm disc.

    卷得越紧,层次越多

    🔍 Look for 2 分钟 · 2 minutes

    Visual: 边缘可见螺旋层纹;表面油润泛光,缀点点翠绿。Spiral layers visible at edge; surface glistens with oil and green flecks.

    You know it's right when: 提起时不松散、不回弹。Coil holds shape without unrolling when lifted.

  3. 3Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook pancake 2 minutes per side, pressing gently with spatula to encourage even browning and layer separation.

    压时从中心向外推

    🔍 Look for Medium heat 每面2分钟 · 2 minutes per side

    Visual: 表面绽开金棕色斑点,边缘微微翘起。Golden-brown spots bloom across surface; edges lift slightly.

    You know it's right when: 飘出淡淡坚果香;轻叩底面有脆响。Faint nutty aroma rises; underside sounds crisp when tapped.

  4. 4Reduce heat to low. Drizzle remaining 15 ml sesame oil around rim of pancake. Cook 60 seconds more — oil will sizzle and seep into layers.

    油要淋在锅边,借热气熏入

    🔍 Look for Low heat 60 秒 · 60 seconds

    Visual: 油聚于层间沟壑;表面转为浓郁琥珀色。Oil pools in ridges between layers; surface darkens to rich amber.

    You know it's right when: 油声由爆裂转为持续微 shimmer 光泽。Oil stops sizzling actively and begins to shimmer steadily.

  5. 5Transfer to cutting board. Let rest 1 minute — this firms layers. Slice into 6 wedges and serve warm, with extra scallions on the side.

    静置是酥脆关键

    🔍 Look for 1 分钟 · 1 minute

    Visual: 热气匀速上升;锯齿刀切下,层次分明不粘连。Steam rises steadily; layers separate cleanly when cut with serrated knife.

    You know it's right when: 外缘微凉,持形不散。Outer edge cools just enough to hold shape without crumbling.

Tips

  • · Toast raw sesame oil in a small pan over low heat for 2 minutes before using — deepens flavor without burning.
  • · For extra crispness, brush top with oil before final rest — creates a lacquer-like finish.
  • · Store uncooked dough balls wrapped in parchment for up to 2 days refrigerated.

Sources & references

Quantities, technique notes, and substitution ratios are cross-checked against established Chinese cookery references and standard food-science sources.

Common questions

Is there a vegan substitute for oyster sauce?

Yes — 'mushroom oyster sauce' (often labeled vegetarian/vegan) is sold in most Asian grocers and increasingly in mainstream supermarkets. It behaves 1:1 and adds the same glossy umami. Watch labels if you're also gluten-free; most brands are GF, some aren't.

Source: HǎoWèi substitution engine

How do I make this vegetarian/vegan?

Swap meat for tofu, mushrooms (dried shiitake for umami), or seitan. Replace oyster sauce with mushroom sauce, chicken stock with veg stock, and watch for fish sauce and shrimp in sauces. Doubanjiang is vegetarian but check brands. Most of our recipes include a 'make it veg' note in the tips.

Source: HǎoWèi diet guide

I only have 30 minutes. Which recipes should I pick?

Look for the 'Quick' filter (≤30 min) — tomato & egg, egg fried rice, scallion pancakes, beef & broccoli, and mapo tofu (if you have doubanjiang) all fit. Prep tip: mise-en-place everything first; the actual cooking is usually under 10 minutes.

Source: HǎoWèi recipe collection

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