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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
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Ingredients

Serves3

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (2)

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Method

0/6 done
  1. Step 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 min
  2. Step 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.

  3. 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 min
  4. Step 4: Fry undisturbed for 5–6 minutes until the underside is deep golden and the shreds hold together when you shake the pan.

    6 min
  5. Step 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 min
  6. Step 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.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

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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