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Tudou si bing (shredded potato pancakes)
Tǔdòu sī bǐng (土豆丝饼): crisp pan-fried pancakes of shredded potato and spring onion from northern China
In Shandong, Hebei and the northeast, these thin, lacy potato pancakes are a cheap street breakfast and a favourite filler for children's lunch boxes, crisp at the edges and soft in the middle. The potato is cut into very fine matchsticks, seasoned with spring onion, salt and a little white pepper, and bound with just enough flour to hold. The mistake is rinsing away all the starch and squeezing too hard: the shreds then won't stick together. Rinse once, drain, and squeeze lightly. Chef's tip: press the pancake thin with the back of a spatula as soon as it hits the pan; thin pancakes crisp right through and stay crisp longer in a box.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 2 floury potatoesabout 450 g, peeled and cut into very fine matchsticks
- 2 spring onionsfinely chopped
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
- 1 pinch five-spice powder (optional)
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rinse 2 floury potatoes once in cold water, drain well in a sieve and squeeze gently in a clean tea towel so they are damp but not wet.
3 minStep 2: Toss the potatoes with 2 spring onions, 3 tbsp plain flour, 1 tbsp cornflour, ¾ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground white pepper and 1 pinch five-spice powder until every shred is lightly coated.
Step 3: Heat 1 ½ tbsp sunflower oil in a large non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add half the potato, spread it into a 22 cm round and press it flat and thin.
1 minStep 4: Fry undisturbed for 5–6 minutes until the underside is deep golden and the shreds hold together when you shake the pan.
6 minStep 5: Flip with a plate or wide spatula and cook for 4–5 minutes more until golden and the potato is tender (taste a shred from the middle). Repeat with the remaining 1 ½ tbsp sunflower oil and potato.
5 minStep 6: Cut into wedges, cool on a rack so they stay crisp, and pack for lunch.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tudou si bing (shredded potato pancakes) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of floury potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
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