Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes
These Chinese scallion pancakes have crisp, fragrant layers wrapped around a tender, moist center filled with thinly sliced green onions. Bread flour and hot water create the dough, while vegetable and sesame oils add richness and a gentle toasted aroma, making them a satisfying breakfast, snack, or appetizer.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 9 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 41 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 59
- Heart Health
- 55
- Metabolic
- 20
- Digestive
- 28
- Inflammatory
- 19
- Performance
- 29
- General Wellness
- 1
Combine bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in hot water. Mix with a wooden spoon to form a shaggy dough.
- 2
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead until sticky but relatively smooth and elastic, dusting with a minimal amount of flour if needed. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for 2 hours.
- 3
Mix vegetable oil, sesame oil, and flour in a skillet over medium heat until the mixture starts to bubble, about 3 minutes. Cook for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
- 4
Unwrap the dough and cut it in half. Roll each piece into a tube and press it down with your fingers. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a rectangular shape about 1/8-inch thick, flipping it over and dusting it lightly with flour halfway through.
- 5
Brush the surface of the dough with the oil mixture until just covered, leaving 1 inch of space around the edges. Sprinkle scallions on top. Roll the dough up tightly, starting with the long side, to seal in the scallions. Pull the opposite edge over the top once you reach it.
- 6
Coil 1 end of the dough inward toward the middle; wrap the opposite end around the coil to finish, tucking the tip under the bottom. Dust the coil with flour and roll the dough out into a pancake about 1/4-inch thick. Repeat with the remaining dough, oil, and green onions to make the second pancake.
- 7
Heat vegetable oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add 1 pancake and lower the heat to medium. Cook until crispy and browned, about 4 minutes per side. Repeat with the other pancake. Cut into wedges.
- Calories 214.43 kcal Moderate 11%
- Protein 4.81 g Low Source 10%
- Carbohydrate 27.98 g 10%
- Total Fat 8.93 g Moderate 11%
- Saturated Fat 1.26 g Moderate 6%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 6.41 mg Low Source 0%
- Dietary Fiber 1.89 g Low Source 7%
- Total Sugars 0.95 g --
- Added Sugars 0.93 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 3.25 mg Low Source 0%
- Iron 1.31 mg Low Source 7%
- Potassium 21.37 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin A 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Sesame
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Shanghai Style Scallion Pancakes is made with 8 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Bread Flour, Green Onion, and Salt. Each serving provides about 214.43 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Bread Flour, Green Onion, Salt, Seasoned Salt. The full list of 8 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes?
- About 50 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 214.43 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 8 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes healthy?
- Chef John's Shanghai-Style Scallion Pancakes has an easyChef Pro health score of 39/100. Per serving, it provides 214.43 calories and 4.81 g of protein, or 10% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 1.26 g (6% of the Daily Value). It contains Wheat, Gluten, Sesame and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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