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Jianbing
Savoury egg crêpe
Tianjin breakfast crêpe with egg, crispy wafer, sweet bean sauce and herbs
Jianbing guozi began in Tianjin and is now Beijing's favourite breakfast on the go: a crêpe spread on a round griddle, cracked over with egg, brushed with sauces and folded round a crunchy fried cracker. Vendors make one in two minutes; at home a large non-stick pan works. The batter mixes mung bean and wheat flour for a tender, slightly nutty pancake. Chef's tip: spread the batter thin and fast while the pan is hot, then lower the heat before adding the egg so the crêpe stays pliable.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the batter
- 1 ⅜ oz mung bean flouror more plain flour
- 2 ⅛ oz plain flour
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 pinch five-spice powder
For the filling
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 2 tsp chilli sauce
- 4 crispy fried wonton wrappersor 2 squares of fried spring roll pastry
- 2 spring onionsthinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
- 2 tbsp pickled mustard greens (zha cai) (optional)chopped
- 1 tsp black sesame seeds (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 1 ⅜ oz mung bean flour, 2 ⅛ oz plain flour, ¾ cup water, ¼ tsp salt and 1 pinch five-spice powder into a smooth batter that pours like double cream. Rest 5 minutes.
Step 2: Heat a 28 cm non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and wipe it with half of 1 tsp vegetable oil. Pour in half the batter and quickly swirl it right to the edges. Cook for about 1 minute until the surface looks dry.
1 minStep 3: Turn the heat to medium-low. Crack one of 2 eggs on top, break the yolk and spread it over the crêpe with a spatula. Scatter half the 2 spring onions, 2 tbsp fresh coriander and 1 tsp black sesame seeds and cook for 1 minute until the egg sets.
1 minStep 4: Flip the crêpe so the egg is underneath and cook 30 seconds. Brush with half the 2 tbsp sweet bean sauce (tianmianjiang) or hoisin and 2 tsp chilli sauce, scatter with 2 tbsp pickled mustard greens (zha cai), and lay two of the 4 crispy fried wonton wrappers in the middle.
1 minStep 5: Fold the sides over the crackers to make a parcel, cut in half and eat straight away while the crackers still crunch. Common mistake: making them all first and serving together; the crackers go soft within minutes. Repeat with the second.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jianbing take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 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 plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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