Chinese Crepes Recipe(Tianjin-style jianbing)

Today I'm going to introduce you to a recipe for crepes—Chinese Crepes..Is a famous specialty snack from Tianjin, China, are enjoyed by locals as a popular breakfast choice. They can be found everywhere in the streets and alleys of Shandong and Hebei provinces as well. With modern development, Chinese Crepes have evolved into a traditional snack popular across the country, beloved by people nationwide.

8 Reviews
8 Comments
POSTED:07/26/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:2 servings
Total:55 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:5 min

Chinese Crepes(煎饼果子)are a delicious and healthy food that deserves to be tasted and understood more. I hope the following recipe can provide you with useful information and inspiration, deepening your appreciation and love for Chinese Crepes, and encouraging you to give them a try.

1.What is Chinese Crepes?

Chinese Crepes originate from the northern regions of China, particularly Tianjin. Their history can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty when they were a popular street food snack. Over time, Chinese Crepes evolved into a distinctive specialty of Tianjin, becoming an integral part of Tianjin's culinary culture.

In the authentic preparation of Chinese Crepes, mung bean batter is spread on a griddle, cooked, then topped with egg and sprinkled with chopped scallions. After spreading evenly, it is flipped and transferred to another griddle to brush on sauce. The recipe shared today, however, doesn't use mung beans, making it simpler and suitable for home cooking.

2.What ingredients do you need?

Batter: Typically, you can use all-purpose flour. Here, I mainly use 150g of flour mixed with 258g of water to make the batter. This ratio creates just the right consistency for the batter.

Youtiao: When making Chinese Crepes, the main filling is usually youtiao, also known as "Chinese fried dough sticks" or "Chinese crullers."

Egg: Typically, a beaten egg is cracked onto the spread-out pancake to enhance its flavor.

Sauce: Here, I've chosen two types of sauce, sweet and spicy sauce along with tomato sauce. There are many options for sauce selection, so you can adjust according to your own taste preferences.

Black sesame seeds: Black sesame seeds are typically sprinkled on top right after the egg is spread evenly on the pancake but before the egg sets, allowing the sesame seeds to adhere better to the egg.

These ingredients are generally available at Asian supermarkets.

3.What equipment do you need?

Chinese Crepes typically don't require any special equipment. Here, I use a regular non-stick frying pan for cooking.

You only need a non-stick frying pan heated over medium-low heat. Pour in a suitable amount of batter and use a spatula to spread it out into a pancake shape. Of course, beginners can opt for equipment like an electric griddle. An electric griddle provides more even temperature distribution and precise heat control, making it less likely for the batter to stick to the pan.

4.How to enjoy Chinese Crepes for the best taste?

Enjoy while hot: Chinese Crepes are best enjoyed hot because the heat enhances the soft texture and brings out the flavors of the various ingredients. The texture and taste of Chinese Crepes deteriorate significantly when they cool down, so it's recommended to eat them fresh and hot.

Beverage Pairing: To balance the flavors, Chinese Crepes can be enjoyed with beverages like milk or honey passion fruit juice. This combination allows you to savor the deliciousness of Chinese Crepes while ensuring balanced nutrition.

Now, let's step into the kitchen and follow these steps to make a delicious Chinese Crepe together! Remember to enjoy the process of cooking and the happiness that good food brings us!

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 150g all-purpose flour

ACCESSORIES

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 youtiao (Chinese fried dough stick)

SEASONINGS

  • 258g water
  • 50g tomato sauce
  • 50g sweet and spicy sauce
  • 5g black sesame seeds
  • 5g chopped scallions

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Prepare the ingredients by washing them thoroughly and setting them aside.

Wash ingredients thoroughly before setting aside for preparation.

STEP 2

Mix 150g of all-purpose flour with 258g of water to prepare the batter, pouring the water gradually while stirring.

Tip:

Adjust the batter ratio according to personal preference, but be careful not to add too much flour as it can make the pancake too firm.

Mix all-purpose flour and water to make pancake batter; adjust ratio carefully.

STEP 3

Let the prepared batter rest for half an hour to allow it to rise.

Allow batter to rest for 30 minutes to rise.

STEP 4

Take a small bowl and pour in 50g of tomato sauce and sweet and spicy sauce. Set it aside for later use.

Combine 50g of tomato sauce and sweet/spicy sauce in a bowl.

STEP 5

Chop 5g of scallions and set them aside for later use.

Chop 5g of scallions for later use.

STEP 6

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat, then pour in the batter and use a spatula to spread it into an even, thin pancake.

Tip:

Maintain medium heat throughout the cooking process to avoid overheating or undercooking the pancake.

Heat pan, pour batter, spread thin, maintain medium heat for perfect pancake.

STEP 7

Crack the eggs and pour them evenly over the pancake. Use the spatula to spread them out evenly.

Spread cracked eggs evenly over pancake batter and spread with spatula.

STEP 8

When the eggs are almost set, sprinkle 5g of chopped scallions and black sesame seeds over the pancake.

Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds over almost-set eggs for pancake topping.

STEP 9

Flip the pancake over and evenly brush it with the tomato and sweet and spicy sauce. Place the youtiao on top.

Tip:

When flipping the pancake, do it quickly and gently to avoid breaking it or failing to flip it properly.

Brush pancake with tomato sauce, place youtiao on top. Flip pancake quickly and gently to avoid breaking it. (77 characters)

STEP 10

Roll up the egg pancake with the help of chopsticks, and it's ready to serve!

Roll up egg pancake using chopsticks for serving.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Chinese Crepes Recipe(Tianjin-style jianbing)
  • Main Ingredients:3
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:308 g
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 308 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):899 kcal
    41%
  • Protein:36.87 g
    68%
  • Fat:22.67 g Why gray?
    47%
  • Carbohydrates:132.7 g
    54%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 17%
    152 kcal
  • Fat: 23%
    203 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 60%
    544 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
9:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

8 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
FlavorFestiveDecember 03, 2024

I love how easy this recipe is. The pancakes came out perfectly, and the addition of youtiao is a nice touch!
CulinaryQuestNovember 19, 2024

What if my batter is too thick?
reply:
November 21, 2024
You can add a bit more water to thin it out. The batter should be pourable but not too runny.
SpiceSizzleSphereNovember 07, 2024

The pancakes turned out amazing—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sauce adds a great flavor.
SizzleSavvyStudioOctober 25, 2024

What if the pancake is too soft after cooking?
reply:
October 27, 2024
If it’s too soft, try cooking it a bit longer to crisp up. Adjust the heat as necessary.
TasteTriumphStudioOctober 14, 2024

This recipe makes the perfect pancake! The texture is just right, and the flavor combinations are fantastic.
FlavorFusionFeastSeptember 29, 2024

Can I use a different type of flour for the batter?
reply:
October 01, 2024
Yes, you can use whole wheat flour or other types of flour, but this will alter the texture and taste of the pancake.
Food loverSeptember 03, 2024

This pancake was so good, I followed it out. Thanks so much for sharing.
thomasJuly 29, 2024

Can I adjust the ratio of flour to water?
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