
Gluten‑Free Kimchi Pancake (Korean Style “Kimchi Jeon”) | Banana Island Recipe
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Difficulty: ☆☆☆★★ (Beginner-friendly)
Cuisine: Snack / Appetizer / Korean Fusion
Special Note: No wheat flour – uses green banana flour — gluten‑free & plant-based
Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 3–4 mins per pancake
Yield: 4–5 large pancakes
🧰 Tools You’ll Need
- Large mixing bowl
- Strainer
- Frying pan
- Spatula
🍌 Ingredients (makes ~4–5 pancakes)
- 400 ml chopped kimchi (well fermented, for best flavor) quickimchi.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15tiktok.com+15
- 150 g Banana Island green banana flour (gluten‑free alternative)
- 260 g cold water (plus more if needed for batter consistency)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (optional, for extra spice)
- ½ Tbsp sugar
- Optional mix-ins: canned tuna, thinly sliced meat, shrimp, or squid
👩🍳 How to Make Gluten‑Free Kimchi Pancake
1. Make the batter
In a bowl, whisk together chopped kimchi, Banana Island green banana flour, cold water, gochugaru (if using), and sugar. Since green banana flour absorbs more water than wheat flour, adjust the water for a pourable pancake‑like batter.
2. Cook the pancakes
Heat a frying pan with a generous layer of oil. Pour the batter and smooth it into a thin pancake. Add optional ingredients like seafood or meat for extra flavor.
3. Flip & finish
Cook until the edges crisp and golden, ~3 minutes, then flip for another 2–3 minutes. For beginners, making smaller, mini kimchi pancakes makes flipping easier.
4. Serve & enjoy
These crispy pancakes—or kimchi jeon gluten free—are perfectly chewy inside and savory outside. They pair beautifully with makgeolli (Korean rice wine) because its slightly sweet, lightly sparkling flavor balances the spicy tang of kimchi en.wikipedia.org+1theguardian.com+1theguardian.com+5thekoreanvegan.com+5washingtonpost.com+5theguardian.comen.wikipedia.org+12minhwaspirits.com+12greenhearttravel.org+12.
🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Gluten-free & dairy-free, ideal for those avoiding wheat
- Chewy and crispy texture from green banana flour — stays crisp longer koreanbapsang.com
- Sweet and spicy fusion flavor that’s light on the stomach
- Versatile: add tuna, shrimp, squid, or meat to transform into kimchi pancake with seafood
🥂 Makgeolli + Kimchi Pancake: Perfect Pairing
Traditional Korean pairing of kimchi jeon and makgeolli is celebrated for a reason:
- Makgeolli’s creamy, mildly sweet, and slightly carbonated profile refreshes the palate between bites instagram.com+13minhwaspirits.com+13greenhearttravel.org+13greenhearttravel.org.
- This combo is especially revered on rainy days—when the crispy texture of pancake and fermented tang of kimchi meets the smooth rice wine, it creates a comforting, balanced meal