Korean Stuffed Chili Pepper Pancake
Gochu-jeon is a Korean holiday pancake made by splitting mild green chili peppers lengthwise, removing the seeds, stuffing them with a filling of ground pork mixed with pressed tofu and garlic, then coating in flour and egg before pan-frying. The pepper's gentle heat wraps around the pork filling's savory richness and the tofu's silky softness, creating a layered contrast in every bite. Filling each pepper to about seventy percent capacity prevents bursting during cooking, and using cucumber peppers instead of regular green chilies eliminates nearly all spiciness for milder palates. This jeon is a fixture on Seollal and Chuseok tables, and it tastes best served warm with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce that brightens the meat filling's umami.
Adjust Servings
Instructions
- 1
Split peppers lengthwise and remove seeds.
- 2
Mix pork, squeezed tofu, garlic, and salt for filling.
- 3
Stuff peppers and dust with flour.
- 4
Dip in beaten egg and pan-fry over medium heat.
- 5
Cook both sides golden, cool slightly, and slice.
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