Description
Jian Bing is a popular Chinese street food featuring thin, savory crepes filled with egg, fresh herbs, and flavorful sauces. This recipe creates a deliciously crispy yet soft crepe with the perfect balance of savory, spicy, and tangy flavors, making it an ideal breakfast or snack option.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Batter:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup mung bean flour (or substitute with more all-purpose flour)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce or Sriracha (optional)
- 1/4 cup pickled mustard greens (optional)
- 2 crispy wonton wrappers or Chinese fried crackers (baocui)
For Cooking:
- Vegetable oil
- Nonstick skillet or griddle
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, mung bean flour (or additional all-purpose flour), water, milk, and salt until you achieve a smooth, thin batter with a consistency similar to crepe batter.
- Heat the skillet: Lightly grease a nonstick skillet or griddle with vegetable oil and heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
- Cook the crepe base: Pour a thin layer of the batter into the skillet and tilt the pan to spread the batter evenly into a thin circle.
- Add the egg: Immediately crack one egg over the crepe and gently spread it across the surface with a spatula to cover the entire crepe.
- Add fresh herbs: Sprinkle chopped green onions and cilantro evenly over the egg-covered crepe while it cooks.
- Flip the crepe: Once the crepe begins to set and edges lift easily, carefully flip it over to briefly cook the egg side.
- Flip back and add sauces: Flip it back again to the batter side, then brush the surface with hoisin sauce and optional chili sauce or Sriracha for flavor.
- Add optional pickled mustard greens: Spoon the pickled mustard greens over the crepe if using, distributing evenly.
- Add crunch and fold: Place a crispy wonton wrapper or Chinese fried cracker in the center of the crepe, then fold the sides over to form a square or roll. Press lightly to seal the crepe.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve hot immediately to enjoy the maximum crispiness. Repeat the process for the second crepe.
Notes
- You can substitute the crispy wonton wrapper or cracker with lettuce or tortilla chips to add crunch if preferred.
- It is best to serve Jian Bing fresh and immediately after cooking to maintain its crispy texture.
- If mung bean flour is not available, you can use all-purpose flour instead, though the texture will be slightly different.
- Adjust chili sauce quantity to your preferred spice level.
