It’s been a very hot sizzling summer season this year. I’ve been wishing for a decent heavy rain and my wish was granted late last week. But perhaps I should have specified how much rain for how long I wanted it for. It’s been miserably raining with strong wind constantly blowing for around 5 days in a row and now I am wishing for the sunny blue sky again. Will you please come back soon?
Blowing tree branches and constant rain drops woke me up this morning. As soon as I opened my eyes, I knew I had to have some pancakes. But what do I have in my fridge and pantry that doesn’t need me to go out to fetch fancy ingredients? I had two potatoes, some onions and green chilies on hand. Then it was easily determined that I am going to make some Gamja Jeon:감자전 (Korean potato pancakes).
Do you have any food you crave on a rainy day? What’s your craving food?
Ingredients for 1 person or 2 people (if you are feeling generous) – below ingredients will only give you 6 small-medium sized pancakes
- 2 medium-sized peeled potato (260g)
- 1/2 medium-sized peeled onion (60g)
- (optional) 1 seeded green chili, thinly sliced (I know my photo tells two, but only one is enough)
- Sprinkles of salt (I didn’t measure this but I think it was less than 1/8 tsp)
- A dash of oil for pan frying (I used rice bran oil)
Steps
1. Blend the potato in a mixer or use a grater.
2. Drain the water from the blended potato. Let it sit for about 5 mins.
3. Blend the onion in a mixer or use a grater.
4. Mix the potato (that is on a sieve) and the onion in a bowl. Add some salt.
5. Empty the water in the bowl and add any leftover potato starch from the bottom of the bowl into the potato and onion mixture above. Stir it well. (Some say, the reason for this step is to make the potato mixture crispier by adding the starch, but for me the main reason is to increase the potato mixture volume. More volume, more pancakes 
)
6. Heat the pan on high heat and add some oil.
7. Once the pan is heated, scoop out potato mixture and place it onto the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high.
8. (optional) Once one side of the pancake is about 70-80% cooked, garnish with the chili.
9. When one side of the pancake is completely cooked, turn it over. Lightly press it with a spatula to flatten a bit.
10. When the other side of the pancake is completely cooked, turn it over again to see whether it is cooked OK. Also if you prefer golden crispy pancakes, cooking them both sides twice is not a bad idea as long as you don’t burn them.
11. Serve it on the plate and enjoy!
FAQ:
Why do most Koreans wants to have pancakes on a rainy day? Below are just a few theories. (Believe or Not!)
- When a pancake is cooked in a pan, it makes a sizzling noise. Apparently people associate this sizzling noise with the sound from rain drops.
- When we don’t get to see the sun (like on a rainy day) melatonin level increases in our body and it make us feel a bit depressed. So our body wants us to increase the sugar level by taking some carbohydrates, and Koreans happened to choose pancakes. Probably that’s because our mum made pancakes for us on a rainy day and our brain remembers this!
- 2 medium-sized peeled potato (260g)
- ½ medium-sized peeled onion (60g)
- (optional) 1 seeded green chili, thinly sliced (I know my photo tells two, but only one is enough)
- Sprinkles of salt (I didn’t measure this but I think it was less than ⅛ tsp)
- A dash of oil for pan frying (I used rice bran oil)
- Blend the potato in a mixer or use a grater.
- Drain the water from the blended potato. Let it sit for about 5 mins.
- Blend the onion in a mixer or use a grater.
- Mix the potato (that is on a sieve) and the onion in a bowl. Add some salt.
- Empty the water in the bowl and add any leftover potato starch from the bottom of the bowl into the potato and onion mixture above. Stir it well. (Some say, the reason for this step is to make the potato mixture crispier by adding the starch, but for me the main reason is to increase the potato mixture volume. More volume, more pancakes )
- Heat the pan on high heat and add some oil.
- Once the pan is heated, scoop out potato mixture and place it onto the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high.
- (optional) Once one side of the pancake is about 70-80% cooked, garnish with the chili.
- When one side of the pancake is completely cooked, turn it over. Lightly press it with a spatula to flatten a bit.
- When the other side of the pancake is completely cooked, turn it over again to see whether it is cooked OK. Also if you prefer golden crispy pancakes, cooking them both sides twice is not a bad idea as long as you don’t burn them.
- Serve it on the plate and enjoy!
Are you suppose to boil the potatoes first? 감사합니다
Hi Keisha,
No, you don’t boil the potatoes at all for this recipe. You only need to grate or blend the potatoes (per step 1). Hope it turns out well!!
is it possible to use yams or another type of potato?
Hi Andrew,
I don’t know what yams taste like but certainly other types of potatoes can be used. I will ask my readers if they know.
Hello!!! I just stumbled upon this little blog and the recipes look so delicious (I really want to try them all, but unfortunately, my little town is devoid of Asian and Korean grocery stores
((
Anyway, for this recipe, what kind of potatoes did you use? As a potato lover, each potato is different tasting =)
Hi Elizabeth,
I used a brown potato. OMG check this website. http://redgem.com.au/potato-varieties/
After checking the link above, I think mine was close to “innovator” or “Sebago” potato. I hope this help. Luckily for this recipe, you don’t need to go to the Korean/ Asian grocer.
Oh I’d love this! I like how you added the diagonally cut green onion on the pancakes. So cute!
Is there a specific dipping sauce that goes along with the potato pancakes?
Hi Linh,
The dipping sauce you see in the picture above is just some soy sauce with sesame seeds. I was so eager to eat that I didn’t have time to make a special dipping sauce.
However, if you like to make something different, please refer the below link for dipping sauce.
http://mykoreankitchen.com/2006/09/26/squid-pancakes-ojingeo-buchimgae-in-korean/
You are always welcome to share your cooking photo via facebook or twitter if you like. I hope you enjoy it.
These look so delicious! I must try and make them!
Thanks Leslie,
When you make this, let me know. I would love to see it!