Hobak jeon
Pan-fried courgette rounds
호박전 · Courgette rounds dipped in flour and egg and pan-fried until golden
Hobak jeon (호박전) are slices of Korean courgette dusted in flour, dipped in beaten egg and pan-fried until golden. They are one of the jeon that families all over Korea make for holiday tables, and they also make an easy side dish for an everyday meal. The courgette turns sweet and tender inside its soft egg coating. Korean aehobak is paler and sweeter than a regular courgette, but either works. Serve warm or at room temperature with a soy dipping sauce. Chef's tip: keep the heat gentle. Good hobak jeon is bright yellow with only light golden spots; a hot pan browns the egg before the courgette is tender.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the jeon
- 2 courgettesKorean aehobak if you can find them, cut into 5 mm rounds
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ⅜ oz plain flour
- 2 eggs
- 3 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 red chilli (optional)very thinly sliced, to garnish
For the dipping sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp water
- ½ tsp toasted sesame seeds
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Lay 2 courgettes on a tray, sprinkle with ½ tsp salt and leave for 10 minutes. Pat both sides dry with kitchen paper.
10 minStep 2: Mix 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp water and ½ tsp toasted sesame seeds for the dipping sauce.
Step 3: Put 1 ⅜ oz plain flour on a plate. Beat 2 eggs in a shallow bowl. Dust each courgette slice in flour on both sides and tap off the excess.
Step 4: Heat half the 1 ½ tbsp neutral oil in a large frying pan over a medium-low heat. Dip each floured slice in egg, let the excess drip off and lay it in the pan. Press a slice of 1 red chilli onto each one if you like.
1 minStep 5: Fry for 2 minutes until the egg is set and lightly golden underneath, then turn and cook for 1–2 minutes more. Keep the heat moderate so the egg stays yellow rather than brown.
4 minStep 6: Cook the rest in batches, adding the rest of the 1 ½ tbsp neutral oil as needed. Serve with the dipping sauce.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 11 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hobak jeon take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of courgettes?
- Cucumber, same weight (raw dishes only).
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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