Jeon: #1 Korean Savory Pancakes 🥢🥞

Jeon (전), also known as Korean savory pancakes, is a crispy, pan-fried dish made with a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, seafood, meat, or kimchi, all coated in a light batter and fried to golden perfection.

Jeon is a beloved dish in Korean cuisine, often enjoyed as a snack, side dish (banchan), or special occasion food. It is especially popular during Korean holidays, rainy days, and gatherings, where families and friends sit together, sharing crispy pancakes with a side of savory dipping sauce.

In this guide, we will explore:

✔ What is Jeon, and why is it significant in Korean cuisine?
✔ Types of Jeon (Vegetable, Seafood, Kimchi, Meat, and More).
✔ Step-by-step recipe for making classic Korean Pancakes.
✔ Tips for achieving the perfect crispy texture.
✔ Best side dishes and dipping sauces for Jeon.

What is Jeon? A Staple in Korean Cuisine

Jeon (전) translates to “pan-fried dish” and is made by coating ingredients in a simple flour-and-egg batter before frying in oil. It is similar to Japanese Okonomiyaki or Chinese Scallion Pancakes, but Jeon is lighter, crispier, and more diverse in ingredients.

✔ Traditionally served as banchan (side dish) or as anju (food paired with alcohol, especially makgeolli—Korean rice wine).
✔ Jeon is commonly prepared during Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and Seollal (Lunar New Year).
✔ It is enjoyed on rainy days, as the sizzling sound of Jeon cooking resembles falling rain, making it a comforting dish.

📌 Fun Fact: In Korea, many say that “eating Jeon with Makgeolli (rice wine) on a rainy day is the ultimate comfort food experience.” 🌧️🥞🍶

Types of Jeon: Exploring Korean Pancake Varieties

1. Pajeon (파전) – Scallion Pancakes 🥬

✔ Made with scallions (pa) as the primary ingredient.
✔ Often includes seafood (haemul-pajeon), like squid or shrimp for extra flavor.
✔ Served with a savory soy-based dipping sauce.

2. Kimchi Jeon (김치전) – Kimchi Pancakes 🌶️

✔ Uses fermented kimchi to create a tangy, slightly spicy pancake.
✔ Best when made with well-aged kimchi for deep umami flavor.
✔ Often enjoyed as a comfort food, especially in winter.

3. Gamja Jeon (감자전) – Potato Pancakes 🥔

✔ Made from grated or blended potatoes, giving it a chewy, crispy texture.
✔ Served plain or with chopped scallions and seasonings.
✔ Naturally gluten-free!

4. Yukjeon (육전) – Meat Pancakes 🥩

✔ Thinly sliced beef or pork dipped in flour and egg before frying.
✔ Often served at Korean ancestral ceremonies (jesa).

5. Hobak Jeon (호박전) – Zucchini Pancakes 🥒

✔ Made with thinly sliced zucchini rounds, coated in batter, and pan-fried.
✔ Light, delicate, and a healthy, vegetarian-friendly Jeon.

6. Haemul Jeon (해물전) – Seafood Pancakes 🦑🦐

✔ Loaded with shrimp, squid, clams, or other seafood.
✔ Often combined with scallions to create Haemul Pajeon (Seafood Scallion Pancake).

7. Nokdu Jeon (녹두전) – Mung Bean Pancakes (Bindaetteok) 🌱

✔ Made from ground mung beans instead of flour.
✔ A traditional, protein-packed Jeon often served during Korean holidays.

How to Make Classic Korean Pajeon (Scallion Pancakes)

Ingredients (Serves 2-3)

✔ 1 cup all-purpose flour (or Korean pancake mix)
✔ ½ cup water (or cold sparkling water for extra crispiness)
✔ 1 egg
✔ 1 bunch scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
✔ ½ tsp salt
✔ 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional for flavoring batter)
✔ Optional Add-Ins: ½ cup shrimp, squid, or oysters (for Haemul Pajeon)
✔ Oil for frying

📌 Why Use Cold Water? It helps create a light, crispy texture instead of a dense pancake.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Batter

✔ In a mixing bowl, whisk together:

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup cold water
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp salt

✔ Mix until smooth but do not overmix (a few lumps are fine).

Step 2: Add the Vegetables & Protein

✔ Gently fold in scallions (or other vegetables and seafood if using).
✔ Coat everything evenly with the batter.

📌 Pro Tip: Keep the batter slightly thin so the pancakes crisp up properly.

Step 3: Fry the Pancakes

✔ Heat 2 tbsp oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
✔ Pour in half of the batter, spreading evenly.
✔ Cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
✔ Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until crispy.

📌 Secret for Extra Crispiness: Press down lightly with a spatula while frying and add a little more oil around the edges.

Step 4: Make the Dipping Sauce (Yangnyeom Jang) 🥢

✔ Mix together:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• ½ tsp sesame oil
• ½ tsp sugar
• ½ tsp chili flakes (gochugaru)
• 1 chopped green onion
• ½ tsp sesame seeds

📌 Why This Sauce? The tangy, salty, and slightly spicy taste perfectly complements the crispy Jeon.

Tips for the Perfect Crispy Jeon

✔ Use Cold Water or Sparkling Water – Creates a light and airy texture.
✔ Do Not Overmix the Batter – Too much mixing makes the pancakes chewy instead of crispy.
✔ Use Enough Oil – Helps the pancake crisp up instead of becoming soggy.
✔ Cook on Medium Heat – Prevents burning while allowing even cooking.
✔ Press the Pancake Gently While Frying – Ensures maximum crispiness.

📌 Secret Tip: Some Koreans add a little potato starch or rice flour to the batter for an extra crispy crunch.

Best Side Dishes and Pairings for Jeon

✔ Makgeolli (막걸리) – Korean rice wine pairs perfectly with Jeon, especially on rainy days.
✔ Kimchi – Adds a spicy, tangy contrast to the crispy pancakes.
✔ Korean Pickled Radish (Danmuji, 단무지) – Refreshing and slightly sweet.
✔ Gochujang Mayo – A modern fusion dip with creamy, spicy flavors.

📌 Best Beverage Pairing: A cup of hot barley tea (bori-cha, 보리차) or Korean plum tea (maesil-cha, 매실차).

Conclusion: A Must-Try Korean Comfort Food

Jeon is a versatile, crispy, and satisfying dish that can be customized with a variety of ingredients, from scallions and kimchi to seafood and meat. Whether enjoyed as a side dish, nanastoto street food, or anju (alcohol-pairing dish), Jeon brings people together with its warm, comforting flavors and crispy texture.

💬 What’s your favorite type of Jeon? Have you tried making it at home? Share your thoughts below! 🥢🥞🔥