Crispy Cabbage Kimchi Pancakes (Printable Version)

Golden, crispy kimchi and napa cabbage pancakes with a bright soy-vinegar dipping sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup napa cabbage, thinly sliced
02 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped and well drained
03 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Batter

04 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
06 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 3/4 cup cold water
10 - 1 large egg

→ Sauce

11 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
14 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
15 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - 1/2 teaspoon Korean red pepper flakes (gochugaru), optional

→ For Frying

18 - 3 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil, divided

# Directions:

01 - Trim and thinly slice the napa cabbage, chop and drain the kimchi to remove excess liquid, and thinly slice the green onions; set aside.
02 - In a large bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and ground black pepper until evenly combined.
03 - Add the cold water and the large egg to the dry mixture and whisk gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the pancakes tender.
04 - Fold the drained kimchi, sliced napa cabbage, and green onions into the batter until the vegetables are evenly distributed.
05 - Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pour roughly one-quarter of the batter into the skillet and spread to form a 6-inch round. Cook until the underside is golden and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook the second side 2 to 3 minutes more. Add more oil as needed and repeat with the remaining batter.
06 - While the pancakes cook, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, toasted sesame seeds, minced garlic, and gochugaru (if using) in a small bowl and stir to dissolve the sugar.
07 - Transfer cooked pancakes to a paper towel–lined plate to drain briefly, cut into wedges, and serve immediately with the dipping sauce on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • With just a few everyday ingredients and leftover kimchi, you can whip up something that tastes way more impressive than you’d expect.
  • The savory crunch paired with tangy, spicy undertones is so addictive, everyone around the table keeps reaching for more.
02 -
  • If the kimchi isn’t well-drained, the pancakes come out soggy rather than crisp—I learned this after my first attempt ended up limp.
  • Spreading the batter a bit thinner in the pan gives you the crackliest edges and the best bite, so don’t be shy with the spatula.
03 -
  • Wipe the pan between batches with a paper towel and add a fresh splash of oil for evenly crisp pancakes every time.
  • If your kimchi is extra salty, taste your batter and sauce before adding all the salt—in some cases you might not need it all.
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