Chinese Scallion Pancakes

Chinese scallion pancakes sit somewhere between flatbread and savoury pastry: crisp, browned on the outside, with tender, flaky layers threaded with spring onion. A hot-water dough gives the pancakes their pliable texture, while sesame oil helps separate the spiralled layers and adds a nutty fragrance. Pan-fried until deeply golden, they are best served warm in wedges, with a sharp soy and rice vinegar dip to cut through the richness. They work well as a snack, appetiser or sharing side, and the simple dough rewards careful rolling with a satisfyingly layered finish.
Cuisine style Chinese snack-style flatbread
Flavor profile Savoury • Toasted sesame • Spring onion • Umami
Techniques Hot-water dough • Rolling and coiling • Pan-frying
Key equipment Rolling pin • Large frying pan
Cooking style Make-ahead friendly • Freezer-friendly
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Classic layered method: Rolling, coiling and flattening the oiled dough creates the flaky spiral structure associated with scallion pancakes.
  • Crisp outside, chewy centre: Pan-frying gives the pancakes browned, crisp surfaces while the hot-water dough stays tender and slightly chewy inside.
  • Fragrant savoury filling: Sesame oil carries the flavour of the spring onions through the layers without needing a long ingredient list.
  • Sharp dipping sauce: Soy sauce brings salt and umami, while rice vinegar cuts through the richness of the fried dough.

Get the most out of this recipe

Timing notes

  • Rest the dough: The 20-minute rest relaxes the gluten, making the dough easier to roll thinly without springing back.
  • Serve warm: The pancakes are at their best shortly after frying, when the edges are crisp and the layers are still soft inside.

Texture tips

  • Roll thinly for flakier layers: A thinner sheet of dough creates more delicate layers once it is brushed with oil, rolled and coiled.
  • Let them settle before slicing: A short rest after frying helps the layers firm up slightly, giving cleaner wedges.

Make-ahead tips

  • Refrigerate leftovers: Cool the pancakes completely, then store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • Freeze once cooked: Wrap cooled pancakes well before freezing so the layers are protected from drying out.
  • Re-crisp before serving: Reheat in a dry frying pan over medium heat, or from frozen in a 180°C (355°F) oven until piping hot.

Ingredient notes

  • Use spring onions generously: Finely sliced spring onions spread more evenly through the dough and give a cleaner texture when rolled.
  • Sesame oil matters: Sesame oil gives the pancakes their distinctive nutty aroma; a milder oil can be used, but the flavour will be less pronounced.
  • Adjust the dip to taste: Use a little more vinegar for a sharper dip, or more soy sauce for a saltier, more savoury finish.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Put the plain flour and fine sea salt in a mixing bowl. Pour in the just-boiled water and stir with a spoon or chopsticks until a shaggy dough forms. When cool enough to handle, knead for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth.
  2. Cover and rest the dough at room temperature for 20 minutes to relax the gluten. Meanwhile, finely slice the spring onions. Mix the light soy sauce and rice vinegar in a small bowl for dipping.
  3. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces. On a lightly oiled surface, roll one piece into a thin rectangle, then brush with half the sesame oil. Scatter over half the spring onions and a pinch of fine sea salt.
  4. Roll the dough up tightly into a long log, then coil into a spiral like a snail. Flatten gently, then roll into a round about 20 cm wide, keeping the layers intact. Repeat with the remaining dough, sesame oil and spring onions.
  5. Heat 2 tbsp of the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry one pancake for 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning once, until well browned and crisp, adding a little more vegetable oil if the pan looks dry. Transfer to a board and repeat with the remaining pancake.
  6. Rest the pancakes for 2 minutes so the layers set, then cut each into wedges. Serve warm with the soy and vinegar dip alongside.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • Roll the dough as thinly as you comfortably can for the flakiest layers, then roll it up tightly to create distinct spirals.
  • Keep the heat at medium: too hot and the outside browns before the inside cooks through; too low and the pancakes absorb excess oil.
  • For the cleanest wedges, let the pancakes sit for a minute or two after frying before slicing.

Substitutions

  • Replace rice vinegar with white vinegar for a sharper dipping sauce.
  • Replace sesame oil with olive oil for rolling if you want a milder flavour (the layers will be less fragrant).

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat in a dry frying pan over medium heat until hot and crisp again; for freezing, wrap well and reheat from frozen in a 180°C (355°F) oven until piping hot.

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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 servings
  • Total time: 55min (30min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Chinese
  • Allergens:
    Gluten Sesame Soybeans Wheat
Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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