GRILLED Scallion Pancakes (Cong You Bing) - Grilling Time Side Dish-Appetizer

Keep scrolling down for
LOTS AND LOTS of How-To Photos
showing how EASY these gems are to make... including a Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce...

Did you happen to catch yesterdays post???

I grilled some amazing Korean Style Beef Short Ribs.  I was in an Asian mood so I decided to ponder what I could grill to make a full Asian themed meal.  Grilling has a rich (and delicious) history in Asia.  Arguably the Genghis Khan and the Mongol Hordes that invaded Eastern Europe in the 13th Century, creating the largest contiguous land empire in human history, brought many of the same grilling techniques used today to the west.  Those little round concave shields were perfect for Wok cooking, combine two and you have an oven, put it in a fire, line the top with skewers and you have indirect grilling.  Napoleon has been credited with saying that an "Army travels on it's stomach".  But it was the 13th century Mongols that traveled across the known world on their grilling techniques...

But I digress...

You may have seen these appetizers at just about any Asian takeout restaurant.  They are very popular and delicious.  They always come with a spicy Soy Sauce based dipping sauce.

Simply put, they are flatbread, pan fried in a little Sesame oil.  The scallions are embedded inside the dough for a unique look and taste.  It was a simple thing to adapt to the grill.  Just make as normal, brush with Sesame Oil and grill until cooked.

And this time, the secret is also in the sauce...

OK, Here's what I did...

Cong You Bing
Scallion Pancakes

Ingredients

For the Pancakes:
2 cups Flour
3/4 cup BOILING WATER
pinch Salt
1 TBS Vegetable Oil, plus more for frying
Sesame Oil to brush coat
4 Scallions, thinly sliced, green parts only

For the sauce:
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
1/4 cup Rice Vinegar
2 teaspoons Sesame Oil
2 diced dry Red Chilies
1 tsp Sugar

The only "trick" to these is to get the sliced green onions inside the pancake (and I have step by step photos at the bottom of this post to show how easy the "tricky" part is).  Actually, BTW, these are more of a fried flatbread than a pancake.  there is no batter, but a dough.  No yeast, so no rise like a "normal" bread.  But the trick is easy...

• Mix the flour, hot water, 1 TBS oil.  Knead dough until soft and smooth, 10 minutes or until satiny smooth.  Add water or flour, small amounts at a time, as needed to get the right consistency.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
• Roll dough into a log on a lightly floured surface
• Cut into 8 even pieces.
• Roll each piece out into a circle, keeping unused dough covered as you work.
• Brush each with Sesame Oil, sprinkle with @1 teaspoon of the scallions.  
• Roll each piece into a tight cylinder, pinch ends to flatten, wrap each cylinder around itself to form a spiral, cover with plastic wrap and let stand for 20 minutes.
• Place spirals on a lightly floured surface, flatten gently, roll out to thin circles.  Let stand for 20 minutes.
•  Meanwhile, for the dipping sauce, whisk together all ingredients.  the longer you allow this to sit, the hotter the sauce will be (in a VERY good way).
• Grill over direct heat on a preheated grill (HOT for the grill marks).  Grill the pancakes, flipping only once, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Season with salt, cut into wedges and serve with the dipping sauce!

Whoop de DOO!!!

This really is much too simple of a recipe.  No real dramatic presentation, but it is exactly what I remember from my dining out days (costing less than what I used to leave as a tip).  Made a bit more spectacular on the grill.

Here are a few photos that will make the "tricky" part of this recipe easy to understand (and it's not really that tricky)...

FANTASTIC!!!  And perfect when served with the Korean Beef Short Ribs

And some grilled Bok Choy (Come back tomorrow for that post)!

*************************************************************************

So,  I am pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Grilling Time Secret Extras" or "52 Ways to Cook BBQ and Grilling Recipes"!!!

Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop... Over 100 in one grilling season (I love to grill!). But not just leat... Drinks, Condiments (LOTS of different BBQ sauces), Drinks, Desserts... even specialty items like GRILLED Pizza, and fun shaped Watermelons.  Easy and these ideas will make you the MASTER of your Backyard Domain!

****************************PINTEREST**************************

Come and find me on Pinterest... Any of my "52 Ways to cook" Boards are worth following.  If you like this post, please take a second and "Pin" this to your own boards... Better yet, if you are part of a foodie group board please take a second and add this post to your group pins... best way to show your Love!

And BTW, if you are not yet part of a group board, drop me an email at Contact@eRecipeCards.com and request to be added to my group board... FAVORITE FOOD BLOGGERS! (be sure to include your pinterest ID when you write)  Once you are added, any pins you add will be seen by 10s of THOUSANDS of followers of the board (and growing daily).

Rules, only 2... 

1. In order to join you need to start following the group board as well as at least one of my boards.
2. And you must ONLY pin original sources, posts from food related bloggers only.  If you are a blogger, this is a great way to have thousands of potential readers see your work,  If you are a fan of bloggers, a great way to share your favorites...
   Come and be a part of ... FAVORITE FOOD BLOGGERS! on Pinterest