One of the things I perhaps miss the most about home (apart from family and friends obviously) is the food, and not just good old British grub either! We are extremely lucky in the UK to have a massive cultural mix of ethnic restaurants of all varieties. Where we used to live we were spoilt for choice with Southall “up the road” in one direction – with it’s amazing Indian and Pakistani eateries. And then “Little Korea” “up the road” in the other direction with New Malden – which is now famed for its streets lined with bulgogi and kimchi joints. One of my pregnancy cravings with my son (there were several!) was Bibimbap, the traditional Korean rice dish served in a blisteringly hot stone bowl topped with various meat and vegetables and a spicy sauce. It’s still one of my favourite foods, and I think I ate it in one particular restaurant so many times that the owner told me in no uncertain terms that I would have a big fat baby. Luckily he wasn’t too much of a big fat baby, but the 6 Year Old does like spicy foods, which I like to think is more than a coincidence!
He celebrated his first birthday at a newly opened and pretty fabulous Chinese restaurant just around the corner from our old house. To me it’s always a good indicator at how the food is in a restaurant like this when the streets are lined with the cars of the Chinese community who travel far and wide to visit this place. To this day I dream about the exquisite dim sum served in steaming hot bamboo baskets that we would stuff our faces with for Sunday brunch, followed by the most delectable Peking Duck.
Peking duck is a little different to Crispy duck in that it’s roasted rather than fried, and then served sliced alongside the traditional accompaniments of sliced cucumber, spring onion, hoisin sauce and the all important flour pancakes. Which leads me on to this recipe! We can buy duck here from time to time, it’s usually pretty good and locally sourced and if you don’t mind the hassle, it’s great to make Peking Duck with (a topic for another Expat Essentials post perhaps!?) but this post is about the all important pancakes – whether you are making duck or pork Chinese dishes. This simple recipe is great fun for the kids too (if you do the initial boiling water part!), as I am sure you will notice the small hands in the pics! I got to do the final cooking bit too though!
Ingredients – Makes 14-16
8oz Organic White Plain Flour;
3 quarters of a cup of boiling water (around 177 millimetres);
Sesame Oil.
In a bowl, add the boiling water to the flour. Bring together and knead for around 3-5 minutes and leave it to rest for half an hour. Roll into a sausage shape and cut into 14 1″ pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten slightly with a rolling pin. Do the same with another and paint the surface of the first pancake with sesame oil, place the other on top and repeat until you have a mini tower of pancakes. The theory is that you will be able to peel them apart easily thanks to the oil, and it does actually work. Like the Tortillas, cook in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for a couple of minutes per side.
Don’t forget to check out Deanna’s Cooking for Expat Series over at Casinos to Castles. This week’s recipe looks goood….
OK this looks so good and easy, right? I just need to get my hands on some sesame oil. They ran out in the local shop (the only one that stocks it that I have found) weeks ago. That’s small town Spain, eh?
Thanks Sophie… damn it. Hope you get some soon enough! :D
Oooh, mmmm, is it a little early in the day for these? ….. nah.
Never too early for a duck pancake! Thank you! :)
These look lovely, I love these in restaurants but never thought of making my own.
Soo easy! Edible playdough kind of! Thanks Alison! :)
This is such a great series :) Having just been home I am again reminded of the things I miss!
Thanks Sara, glad you like it! Plenty more to come… Some obscure stuff, some not so obscure! :D
Like the pancake didn’t look lush enough – BOOM there’s a scone in your badge!
Thank you Annie… :D
Ooooh, I’m not sure I’ve ever had peking duck! It looks amazing though. I know my hubby would love it.
I know what you mean about good Chinese restaurants too. When we were in San Francisco we chose our Chinese restaurant based on the number of Chinese people already in there!
That is always a good sign wherever you are! I do it here too, if it’s got loads of Bavarians in it, the food is going to be authentic and local! :D Thank you xx
Ooh that is a great recipe. I haven’t tried Peking duck but I love crispy duck, when I was pregnant that was my big craving and I am surprised my son didn’t come out quacking.
Thank you Nikki! :D
Ohhh just in time to ring the changes for pancake day – next week! x
I expect they might not be so nice with syrup and lemon however… xx
Wow, your pancakes look wonderful, you clever girl. It makes me realise how boring I am with my cooking. Mich x
Thank you Michelle, I am sure you’re not! This is what living abroad has done to me. I would be doing far more interesting and useful things at home I am sure of it! :D xx
Yum yum, one of mine and Mr Boo’s favourite restaurants is an all you can eat Chinese buffet restaurant and I always eat as many duck pancakes as possible.
You are a girl after my own heart! :D Thank you…
oooh, those look delish. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Elisa! :)
Love this one too. I must try making those pancakes. I like the way that they are just flour and water – no nasty things added.
And would be good with plenty of other things too! Thank you Rachel! :)
You are so impressive with your skillz, and you reminded me – it’s pancake day next Tuesday! X
I have a jar of golden syrup set aside!! :D Thank you… You are too kind! :)
I don’t make a lot of Chinese food at home but I really should make more of an effort. I really love dim sum but I find that to make them at home you supposedly need so much specialist equipment that I don’t bother because it is easier to go out. We are lucky that we can just pop into London on the train and take our pick of restaurants with food from around the world. I never thought to make Chinese pancakes before and this looks really easy. My mouth is watering now!
There are a few dim sum dishes that can be easy to make at home… I might cover them in future EE’s! :D Thank you… And please do have lots of lovely London dishes for me. I will message you with my secret place, go if you can, it’s sooo worth it! :) xx
Duck pancakes with plum sauce is my Chinese takeaway order of choice, but I’d have NEVER have thought of making my own.
Ruby loves them too, so thanks so much for the recipe, I can try making some for her lunchbox because there’s never any leftovers of them when I’m around!
Thank you Liz! She will love helping to make them too, it’s kind of like edible play dough! :D
This is making my mouth water!! Duck pancake are my absolute favourite thing in the whole world EVER bar none! x
Thank you Alice! One of mine too! :D x
Ooh now this would make for a different take on pancake day!
Wouldn’t it just… This could be a main course! :D Thank you…
oh my, my mouth is watering!
Mine too Maggy, mine too! :D Thank you :)
They look so yummy, will give them a try xxx
Thank you… :)
Peking duck is the best! I would happily go to a chinese restaurant and just eat that.
Me too Louisa, me too! :)