Moo Shu Pancakes (春饼)
Imagine a wrapper so thin it’s almost translucent, yet strong and chewy enough to cradle a mountain of savory filling — that’s the magic of fresh moo shu pancakes, or chūnbǐng (春饼). They are as easy as combining all-purpose flour, salt, and boiling water. We’ll show you the simple rolling technique to get perfectly paper-thin chewy pancakes fast!
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup all purpose flour
- 0.125 teaspoon salt
- 0.66 cup water
- for brushing neutral oil
Instructions
- Mix the flour and salt in a heatproof bowl. Pour the boiling hot water into the flour mixture. Use chopsticks or a spatula to mix until a dough ball forms. Once cool enough to handle, knead the dough for 8 minutes until smooth, adding flour if it’s very sticky.
- Place the dough on a board and cover with the overturned mixing bowl (or cover with plastic). Rest the dough at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours.
- Roll the dough into a 12-inch (30cm) rope and cut into 12 equal pieces. Form each piece into a dough ball, then flatten into a small disc about 2 inches (5cm) in diameter. Lightly brush 6 of the discs with oil, ensuring the sides of the discs are also brushed with oil. Layer the remaining 6 discs over the 6 oiled discs so you have 6 pieces, each composed of 2 discs.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the discs into thin circles 7 inches (18cm) in diameter. I start by pressing the dough down with my palm. Then I use my rolling pin to press the dough and make it even. Then I start rolling, flipping and rotating the pancakes as I do it so both of the dough discs are about the same size.
- Heat a dry wok or frying pan over medium low heat, and place one pancake into the pan. After 30 to 45 seconds, you should see air pockets begin to form between the two pancakes. Flip the pancake; it should be white with just a couple of faint brown patches. Any more than that, and you’ve overcooked them!
- After another 30 seconds, the air pockets should be large enough to separate the two pancakes. Remove the pancake to a plate, and let it cool for another 30 seconds. Now carefully pull apart the two pancakes at the seams.
- Place finished pancakes onto a plate and cover with a warm kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining pancakes!