All you need is a few basic pantry and fridge ingredients for the ultimate recipe for Easy Scallion Pancakes perfect for dunking in a sweet and spicy soy dipping sauce.

Few foods are as satisfying to make from scratch as scallion pancakes. The Chinese appetizer-slash-snack transforms a simple lineup of ingredients into tender, chewy pancakes staring layer after layer of fresh scallions and sesame oil.

So how do you go from flour, water and scallions to pancake perfection? Your success all comes down to technique, and I’ve got your covered with step-by-step photos to guide the way!

How to Make Easy Scallion Pancakes

First and foremost, homemade scallion pancakes must be made with boiling water (rather than warm or room temp). The hotness of the water allows it to quickly bind with the flour and create a shockingly smooth and pliable pancake dough.

It’s important to follow this recipe exactly and to not skip the step of letting the dough rest for 30 minutes. Doing so allows the gluten in the flour to relax, which will make it much easier to roll out the pancakes and create all of those famously flaky layers.

Speaking of layers, the real secret to making the best scallion pancakes is the classic filling, rolling, coiling and re-rolling. Begin by rolling out each pancake then brushing it with a very thin layer of sesame oil. The oil adds flavor and helps the scallions stick.

After you’ve rolled it up into a log, twist the log into a coil and tightly tuck the outer edge underneath the coil. Then it’s time to get rolling, round two!

Apply even pressure as you roll to seal the scallions into the pancakes.

How to Cook Scallion Pancakes

Now all that’s left to do is introduce your perfectly rolled pancakes to a hot pan.

A splash of vegetable oil guarantees that crispy crust, but most important of all, flipping each pancake frequently helps prevent any scallions on the surface of each pancake from burning.

Repeat the cooking process with the remaining pancakes then slice them into wedges. Now it’s time to get that dipping sauce ready!

Dipping Sauce for Scallion Pancakes

Keep it simple with soy sauce or up the dunkability factor of your crispy wedges with a quick-fix dipping sauce that balances every flavor note possible. This recipe is the perfect mix of soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar, scallions and an optional pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.

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