Chinese Scallion Pancakes with 100% Whole Wheat Flour

Scallion pancakes are one of my favorite Chinese take-out appetizers. Finely chopped scallions layered into dough that’s thinly rolled out then pan-fried into a crisp golden brown perfection…what’s not to like? Two years ago I made my own version but added seasonal ramps. This time I wanted to go the traditional route but with 100% whole wheat flour.

When you’re finished cooking the pancakes, cut them up into little triangles, perfect for dipping. They taste great with your favorite Asian dipping sauce. I like a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil and rice vinegar.

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Chinese Scallion Pancakes with 100% Whole Wheat Flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, sifted
1 teaspoon yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup scallions, finely chopped

In a small bowl, add yeast into warm water to dissolve, then stir in sugar. To prepare the dough, half and sift flour into 2 separate bowls. In one bowl, stir in yeast-water until mixture forms a dough. In the other bowl, to the flour add 1 teaspoon of salt and slowly pour in a 1/2 cup of boiling water, quickly stirring until dough forms. Mix in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. On a floured surface, combine the 2 doughs and knead both together. Place in a bowl and cover with a damp towel. Allow the dough to rise for about 30-40 minutes.

When dough has risen, on a floured surface, slice dough into small balls and roll each out flat into circles. Brush on a little oil and then top with some chopped scallions and a pinch of salt. Roll the circle in, then roll again lengthwise, like a snail. With the spiral facing up, roll out flat into a thin circle.

To cook, heat a flat skillet on medium-high and add oil. Pan-fry the pancakes in batches for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve alone or with preferred dipping sauce. For my sauce, I paired it with a combination of 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar and finely chopped scallions. Freeze whatever you don’t cook.

Total Time: 30 minutes (plus 30 minutes for dough)
Yield: makes about 20-25 pancakes
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