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Kkaennip jeon (stuffed perilla leaf pancakes)

Perilla leaves folded around pork and tofu, egg-dipped and pan-fried

For Chuseok and Seollal, Korean kitchens turn out tray after tray of jeon for the ancestral table, and kkaennip jeon are a fragrant favourite: whole perilla leaves are folded like a half-moon around minced pork, tofu and vegetables, then fried in egg. Perilla tastes of mint, anise and basil all at once, and its scent cuts through the richness of the holiday spread. Each little parcel is soft and juicy inside, with a thin, golden shell. Serve them with a soy-vinegar dip, rice and soup, or tuck them into a lunchbox the day after. Chef's tip: lay the leaves shiny side down so the matt, rougher side holds the flour and filling.
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the leaves

For the filling

For frying

  • 2 eggsbeaten with a pinch of salt
  • 4 tbsp neutral oil

For the dip

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (6)

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Method

0/7 done
  1. Step 1: Put 5 ½ oz pork mince, 3 ½ oz firm tofu, 1 oz carrot, 1 spring onion, 1 clove garlic, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil and ¼ tsp ground white pepper in a bowl and mix firmly until it becomes a sticky paste.

    4 min
  2. Step 2: Lay 16 perilla leaves (kkaennip) shiny side down and dust the upper side lightly with 2 tbsp plain flour.

    3 min
  3. Step 3: Spread a scant tablespoon of filling over one half of each leaf, about 1 cm thick, then fold the other half over and press the edges so it holds. Common mistake: overfilling; a fat middle stays raw while the leaf and egg burn.

    10 min
  4. Step 4: Coat each parcel all over in the remaining 2 tbsp plain flour, shaking off the excess, then dip it into 2 eggs.

    4 min
  5. Step 5: Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat and fry the parcels for 3–4 minutes, until the underside is golden and the edge of the filling turns pale.

    4 min
  6. Step 6: Add the remaining 2 tbsp neutral oil, turn and fry for 3–4 minutes more, until both sides are golden and the parcels feel firm and puffed. Check the thickest one with a probe thermometer: the filling should reach 160°F.

    4 min
  7. Step 7: Drain on kitchen paper. Mix 2 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp rice vinegar, scatter with ½ tsp toasted sesame seeds and serve with the warm jeon.

    2 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
275 kcal
Protein
15 g
Carbs
10 g
Fat
20 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does kkaennip jeon (stuffed perilla leaf pancakes) take?
About 40 minutes in total: 22 minutes to prepare and 18 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
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 carrot?
Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.

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