Haemul Pajeon
Crisp scallion and seafood pancake with a soy dip.
Ingredients
- 8 Scallions
- 150 g Shrimp
- 150 g Squid
- 150 g All-purpose flour
- 1 Egg
- 2 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Rice vinegar
- 4 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds (optional)
Method
- Cut the scallions into long lengths and chop the shrimp and squid.
- Whisk the flour, egg, and a little cold water into a thin, pourable batter.
- Mix the soy, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds into a dipping sauce.
- Lay the scallions and seafood in the hot oil, pour over the batter, and fry until crisp and golden on both sides, about 9 minutes.
- Cut into pieces and serve with the dip.
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About Haemul Pajeon
Haemul pajeon is the seafood version of Korea's beloved scallion pancake, a crisp savory pancake laced with long lengths of scallion and studded with shrimp and squid. Pajeon is classic rainy-day and drinking food in Korea, often eaten with makgeolli, and this haemul version leans on the sweetness of the seafood against the sharp green scallion. The batter is deliberately thin and pourable, poured over the arranged scallions and seafood so the pancake fries up lacy and crisp rather than thick and bready.
Frying in generous hot oil until golden on both sides is what gives haemul pajeon its signature crackle at the edges while the center stays tender around the pieces of shrimp and squid. Cut into pieces and served with a dipping sauce of soy, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds, it hits salty, tangy, and nutty notes all at once. It works as an appetizer or a shared plate for the table, and it's the kind of dish that comes together in about twenty-five minutes from a few pantry and seafood staples. Best eaten hot, straight from the pan, while the edges are still at their crispest.
Haemul Pajeon: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Haemul Pajeon?
A serving has about 376 calories — 21.2g protein, 35.5g carbs, 17g fat, 1.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Haemul Pajeon gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains All-purpose flour, Light soy sauce. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for those ingredients to make it gluten-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Haemul Pajeon?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out sesame seeds — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Haemul Pajeon make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.