Crisp Hoi An Pancakes

Ingredients for Crisp Hoi An Pancakes

• 130g rice flour

• 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric

• 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 80ml (or more) vegetable oil, divided

• 110g small prawns, peeled, deveined

• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

• 6 spring onions, thinly sliced

• 110g mung bean sprouts (about 1 cup)

• Large green-leaf or Bibb lettuce leaves and mixed tender herbs (such as mint, coriander, and Thai basil

• for serving)

• Nuoc Cham

Whisk flour, turmeric, salt, and 350ml water in a large bowl until smooth. Cover and let sit at room temperature 1 hour (this allows the rice flour to hydrate; the batter will get creamier as it sits).

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add prawns, season with salt and pepper, and cook, tossing often, until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Wipe out skillet and return to medium high heat. Add remaining 4 tablespoons oil. Mix batter to reincorporate rice flour, pour 1/2-cupful into skillet, and swirl pan to evenly spread out batter. (Be careful: Batter will splatter.) Cook pancake, shaking pan occasionally, until almost cooked and edges begin to curl, about 4 minutes. Top with one-fourth of spring onions, one-fourth of bean sprouts, and one-fourth of prawns and cook until pancake is golden brown and crisp, about 1 minute. Using a spatula, fold pancake in half, forming a half-moon. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining batter (mixing before adding to pan), spring onions, bean sprouts, and prawns to make 3 more pancakes, adding more oil to skillet as needed.

Cut pancakes into wedges. To eat, tuck each wedge inside a lettuce leaf along with some herbs and dip in Nuoc Cham.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.