Korean Busan-style Seafood Green Onion Pancake
Busan-style haemul pajeon is a Korean seafood scallion pancake where long green onions are laid across the pan first, topped with squid, shrimp, and mussel meat, then bound together with a thin cold-water batter. Using cold water is the defining technique of Busan-style pajeon-it inhibits gluten formation and produces edges that shatter rather than bend. As the scallions cook, they release moisture and develop a natural sweetness that absorbs the briny, savory juices from the seafood above. Extra oil drizzled around the edges during cooking fries the perimeter into a cracker-like crunch, while the center stays dense and moist with its layers of shellfish and green onion.
Adjust Servings
Instructions
- 1
Pat seafood dry and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- 2
Cut green onions to pan length and lightly season with salt.
- 3
Mix pancake mix with cold water to make a thin batter, then add egg.
- 4
Heat oil over medium heat, lay green onions first, then pour batter lightly.
- 5
Spread seafood evenly on top and add extra oil around the edges.
- 6
Flip in one motion when crisp, and cook both sides until golden.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Tips
Nutrition (per serving)
More Recipes

Korean Chive Shrimp Jeon (Crispy Chive and Shrimp Pancake)
Buchu-saewu-jeon is a Korean chive and shrimp pancake where coarsely chopped shrimp, garlic chives, and sliced onion are folded into an egg-enriched batter and pan-fried. Leaving the shrimp in rough chunks rather than mincing fine means each bite delivers a distinct, bouncy snap of shellfish sweetness. The onion softens and sweetens as it cooks, balancing the briny shrimp, while a touch of black pepper adds subtle warmth in the background. Spreading the batter thin and cooking for three minutes before flipping ensures the shrimp-studded edges turn crisp and lacy while the chive-packed center stays moist.

Korean Chive Clam Jeon (Garlic Chive and Clam Seafood Pancake)
This seafood pancake features garlic chives and clam meat as its main ingredients, pan-fried in a batter enriched with rice flour for a chewier bite. The clams release a briny, ocean-fresh flavor that pairs naturally with the pungent chives. A touch of hot green chili and minced garlic temper any fishiness while building layers of flavor. Generous oil in the pan crisps the edges to a golden brown, giving each slice a satisfying crunch.

Korean Seafood Scallion Pancake
Haemul-pajeon is a Korean seafood scallion pancake built by laying scallion segments cut to six or seven centimeters in an oiled pan, topping them with sliced squid and peeled shrimp, then pouring a thin batter of Korean pancake mix and cold water over everything and cooking on medium heat. Cold water inhibits gluten development, which is the secret to shatteringly crisp edges, and the scallions pressed directly against the hot oil caramelize underneath the batter, releasing a sweet, aromatic fragrance unique to pajeon. Shaking the pan before flipping confirms the bottom has released cleanly-forcing a stuck pancake tears the delicate structure-and adding a drizzle of oil around the edges for the second side crisps the perimeter into a golden, almost fried ring. Thinly sliced red chili on top adds color and a gentle heat, completing the dish that is Korea's most iconic pairing with makgeolli rice wine.

Korean Chive Seafood Pancake
Buchu-haemul-jeon is a Korean chive and seafood pancake that folds garlic chives, sliced squid, and peeled shrimp into a thin batter of Korean pancake mix, water, and salt. The chives release a pungent, garlicky fragrance during cooking that infuses the entire pancake, while the squid provides a chewy contrast to the snappy bite of shrimp. Because seafood releases moisture as it cooks, the batter should start slightly thicker than a plain vegetable jeon-otherwise the center stays soggy. Spreading the mixture thin and frying over steady medium heat crisps the edges while keeping the seafood-packed center moist, and a dipping sauce of soy, vinegar, and chili flakes highlights the natural sweetness of the shellfish.

Korean Kimchi Pork Jeon (Fermented Kimchi and Pork Crispy Pancake)
Well-fermented kimchi and pork shoulder are the backbone of this hearty Korean pancake. Kimchi brine is mixed directly into the batter, intensifying both the color and the tangy, fermented depth of flavor. A small amount of sugar balances the acidity, while green onion and onion add texture throughout. Pressing the pancake flat in a generously oiled pan over high heat produces deeply caramelized, crispy edges that contrast with the soft, savory interior.

Korean Mixed Grilled Seafood
Haemul-gui modeum is a Korean mixed grilled seafood platter where shrimp, squid, Manila clams, and scallops are lightly dressed in olive oil, salt, and black pepper, then grilled at different intervals to account for each ingredient's cook time. Shrimp and scallops need only two to three minutes, squid takes three to four, and clams stay on the grill just until their shells pop open-staggering the timing ensures everything finishes together at peak texture. Overcooking any element by even a minute turns it rubbery, so close attention is the most important ingredient in this dish. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the entire platter at the table brightens the natural sweetness of each shellfish and ties the assortment into a cohesive, clean-tasting spread.