These light and crispy pancakes are made from mung beans, a dried bean most often used to grow bean sprouts. They can be served as a light meal, appetizer or snack. Make sure to choose yellow mung beans which look like lentils and can be found in Asian markets. When soaked and ground, they give the pancakes a texture similar to cornmeal.
Ingredients:
1 cup yellow mung beans
Water, for soaking
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon Korean red pepper powder or 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup ice water
8 green onions, white and light green parts only, cut into 3-inch matchstick-size strips
Vegetable oil, for coating skillet
Dipping Sauce:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
1/4 teaspoon Korean red pepper powder
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
Directions:
- Add mung beans to a medium bowl and cover with water. Soak at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Drain mung beans in a fine-mesh strainer and place in a blender or in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add eggs, flour, salt, pepper powder, and ice water. Process until batter is smooth. Pour batter into a medium bowl and fold in green onions. Set aside.
- To prepare the dipping sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, hot pepper flakes, and sesame oil. Set aside.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat the bottom with 1/8 inch of oil. Heat oil until hot but not smoking. Using a ladle, pour about 1/2 cup batter and tilt the pan to create a circle about 6 to 8 inches across. Cook until pancake is browned in spots, about 2 to 3 minutes, adding more oil as needed. Using a fish spatula, flip the pancake and cook another 2 to 3 minutes on opposite side. Transfer cooked pancake to a paper towel-lined plate and cover with another paper towel. Repeat the process with the remaining batter, stacking the pancakes on top of each other with layers of paper towel in between.
- To serve: Cut pancakes into wedges and serve with dipping sauce on the side as part.
