Can I Master the World's Crispiest Pancake?

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water + cornstarch

Almond milk reduces calories while providing a creamy texture.

pork

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: tofu

Tofu provides a plant-based protein alternative.

mung beans

🥗Healthier: lentils

💰Cheaper: split peas

Split peas are more affordable while maintaining a similar texture.

shrimp

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: fish

Fish can be a less expensive seafood option.

Start by preparing the batter for the pancake.

In a bowl, combine rice flour, wheat flour, dried turmeric, and a pinch of salt. Whisk the dry ingredients together.

Gently heat coconut milk to melt the fat and whisk it smooth, then add it to the dry ingredients.

Add water to the mixture to lighten it up, whisking until the batter is runny.

Stir in finely chopped scallions into the batter.

Cover the batter and let it rest for a minimum of 30 minutes, ideally an hour.

Prepare the dipping sauce by dissolving sugar in a splash of water, then adding fish sauce, fresh lime juice, minced garlic, and finely chopped chili. Let it sit to mellow.

Cook slices of pork belly in a pan with a touch of oil and salt until golden on both sides.

In the same pan, add more oil and cook shell-on shrimp until they are lightly salted and have a grilled pan-fried edge. Peel the shrimp after cooking for a smoother bite.

Slice the cooked pork belly into thin strips.

Prepare fresh toppings: rinse and dry bean sprouts, perilla leaves, Thai basil, cilantro, and lettuce. Slice half a white onion into slivers.

Heat a pan until really hot, testing with a couple drops of water. If they instantly sizzle and vanish, the pan is ready.

Turn off the heat, add a generous splash of oil, and pour in a ladle of batter, swirling it quickly to coat the pan in a thin layer.

Drizzle in a bit more oil in a spiral motion from the outside in to help with crisping.

Add toppings on one side of the pancake: onion slivers, pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.

Turn the heat back on to medium and cover the pan with a lid to let it steam for about a minute.

Remove the lid and let the moisture escape, allowing the edges to start crisping.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens