Halmiyo’s Gamja Jeon (Korean Potato Pancakes)

Ingredients

• 5 potatoes (medium, peeled and cut into chunks)
• 1 tbsp water (for blending; use up to 2 tbsp if needed)
• 1 Cheongyang chili pepper (finely diced)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• cooking oil (for frying)
• 2.5 tbsp soy sauce (for dipping sauce)
• 1 tbsp vinegar (for dipping sauce)
• 1 tbsp onion (roughly diced, for dipping sauce)
• 0.5 Cheongyang chili pepper (thinly sliced, for dipping sauce)
• 1 tsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, for dipping sauce)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the peeled and chunked potatoes into a blender with 1–2 tablespoons of water. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth.

2. 2

   Strain the blended potato mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl to remove the liquid. Press down to extract as much moisture as possible, keeping the potato pulp in the sieve.

3. 3

   Let the strained liquid sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. The potato starch will settle at the bottom of the bowl.

4. 4

   Carefully pour off the top layer of water from the bowl, being sure to keep the white potato starch that has collected at the bottom.

5. 5

   Return the potato pulp from the sieve into the bowl with the starch. Add the finely diced Cheongyang chili pepper, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix thoroughly to form a batter.

6. 6

   Heat cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Spread the potato mixture into the pan to form a round pancake.

7. 7

   Fry the pancake until the bottom is golden and crispy, then flip and fry the other side until golden and crispy.

8. 8

   Prepare the optional dipping sauce by mixing 2.5 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of diced onion, 1/2 sliced chili pepper, and 1 teaspoon of gochugaru in a small bowl.

Notes

This recipe is a great way to use up potatoes that have started to sprout. The key to the texture is letting the starch settle and incorporating it back into the pulp, which provides a chewy interior without needing flour.

Nutrition per serving

• gamjajeon
• pancake
• korean
• snack
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• potatoes
• comfort food