Korean Lotus Root Beef Pancake
Quick answer
Sliced lotus root is sandwiched with seasoned ground beef, coated in pancake batter and egg, then pan-fried until golden.
What makes this special
- Crunchy lotus root slices sandwich a soft ground beef filling for a sharp textural contrast.
- Lotus root stays crunchy after cooking, contrasting the soft beef filling
- Soy sauce and garlic seasoning makes dipping sauce unnecessary
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Peel lotus root (300 g) and slice into 0.5 cm rounds.
- 2 Combine ground beef (200 g), finely chopped green onion (30 g), garlic (1 ts...
- 3 Remove lotus root from the soak and pat both sides thoroughly dry with paper towel.
Sliced lotus root is sandwiched with seasoned ground beef, coated in pancake batter and egg, then pan-fried until golden. The lotus root keeps its crunch even after cooking, so the texture contrast with the soft beef filling is distinct in every bite. Soy sauce and minced garlic season the filling so the jeon is fully flavored on its own without a dipping sauce. Chopped green onion is worked into the beef for a fresh aromatic note. The lotus root hole pattern fills with meat during assembly, making each cross-section visually clean and precise. The egg coating browns smoothly around the outside, giving a tender rather than crisp exterior.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Prep
Peel lotus root (300 g) and slice into 0.5 cm rounds.
Submerge immediately in vinegar water (1 L water + 2 tbsp vinegar) for 5 minutes to prevent browning and remove bitterness.
- 2Season
Combine ground beef (200 g), finely chopped green onion (30 g), garlic (1 tsp), soy sauce (1.5 tbsp), and pepper (1 g) in a bowl.
Knead by hand for 3 minutes until the mixture becomes sticky.
- 3Prep
Remove lotus root from the soak and pat both sides thoroughly dry with paper towel.
Lightly brush only one side with a small amount of the pancake mix (from the 100 g). The beef filling will go on this side.
- 4Prep
Spread a 2-3 mm thin layer of beef filling on each lotus slice.
Dust lightly with the remaining pancake mix, then brush with egg wash made from 2 eggs.
- 5Control
Heat oil (3 tbsp) in a pan over medium-low heat.
Place each piece beef-side down and cook for 2 minutes. Cooking the beef side first lets it seal against the lotus root so it stays in place.
- 6Finish
Flip and cook the lotus root side for 3-4 minutes until completely tender.
Test with a chopstick; it should pierce through easily. Plate with the beef side facing up.
After the steps
Pick a recipe that fits this dish.
Continue with shared ingredients, meal pairings, or a similar method.
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