Hotteok (Hoddeok) – Sweet Korean Pancake

I’ve always wondered how this unique disc-shaped like snack called hotteok 호떡 (sweet Korean pancake) would taste like. Would it taste as heavenly as so many has spoken about? Finally couldn’t take it any longer with all the guessing, I decided to try make them myself. Oh baby, I did not regret this decision at all! In South Korea, this street snack can be found in places like Insadong and Myeondong area. Update: I got to sample various hotteoks during my visit to South Korea in 2014.

So yummy man!

This also mark my last food post for 2013. Thank you to all my avid readers (I hope I have some??). May the new year 2014 brings you lots of joy, happiness and great health. I had many fun days trying out recipes from various sources and the list never end. I’ll share more with you gals and guys next year. Good bye 2013 and I welcome 2014 with happy heart. Happy New Year!!!

Now let’s cook. 🙂

First, add lukewarm water, sugar, yeast, salt and vegetable oil in a mixing bowl and stir well.

Then, add flour into the mixing bowl.

Mix with rice scoop or by hand until well blended. Since I did not want to get my hands dirty, I use a rice scoop.

Let the dough rise covered with cling wrap or a pot cover at room temperature for an hour.

An hour later, the dough has double its size.

Knead the dough to remove the gas bubbles. Leave it to rise for another 10 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile…

To make fillings, add brown sugar, cinnamon powder and chopped walnuts in a bowl. Mix well. I used almonds here.

20 minutes later the dough has risen again… this time a little. Knead the dough again to release gas bubbles.

Spread some flour on the cutting board and your hand. I spread some shopping brochure below the cutting board so that it’s easier to clean up later. Place dough on cutting board.

Knead the dough.

Divide dough equally into 8 balls by first dividing it into half. From the half, divide another half and one more time. Do the same with the other half. You get 8 dough balls.

Take a piece of dough and flatten it. Place generous amount of fillings and seal it and make into a ball. If it’s sticky, put some flour on the ball and your fingers. Repeat the same for the remaining 7 dough balls.

Now heat a pan over medium heat and add some oil. Place a ball on the pan and cook for about 30 seconds.

Once it has turn light golden brown, turn to the other side.

Flatten it with a spatula to make a thin wide circular disc.

Cook for a minute.

Once golden brown, turn it over again and turn down the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 1 minute. By this time, the brown sugar has melted into syrup. And you’re done.

Serve piping hot!

Hotteok is SUPER delicious and heavenly. I never expected that! Love it love it love it! The sweetness is just right for this recipe. Everyone in my family love this snack. We were basically fighting for the last piece! I think I need to make 2 batches next time. 🙂

Hoddeok (Hotteok) – Sweet Korean Pancake
Adapted from maangchi.com
Yields 8 pieces

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup lukewarm water
2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (or other nuts you have in stock)
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Method:
1. In a mixing bowl, add lukewarm water, sugar, yeast, salt and vegetable oil. Stir well.

2. Add all purpose flour into the mixing bowl and mix until well blended with a rice scoop or by hand.

3. Cover the bowl with cling wrap or a pot cover and allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 1 hour.

4. The dough will rise to double its original size after an hour. Knead the dough to remove the gas bubbles.

5. Leave the dough to rise for another 10-20 minutes.

6. For the filling, add brown sugar, cinnamon powder and chopped walnuts in a bowl. Mix well. Note: Feel free to make fillings with your own favorite ingredients.

7. Now knead the dough to release the gas bubbles again.

8. Spread some flour on the cutting board and your hand. Place the dough on the board and knead it. Divide dough into 8 equal-sized balls.

9. Take a piece of dough ball, flatten it with your palm and place some filling in the center of the dough and then seal it to shaped into a ball. If it’s sticky add some flour to the ball and your fingers. Repeat this to fill all the remaining 7 dough balls. Don’t be stingy with the fillings, you’ll thanks me later. 😉

10. Heat a pan over medium head and add some oil.

11. Place a dough ball on the pan and cook for about 30 seconds. Turn the ball over once the bottom side is light golden brown. Then flatten the dough with a spatula to make into a thin wide circular disc.

12. Cook for about a minute until bottom is golden brown. Then turn it over again and adjust the heat to low.

13. Cover pan with a lid and cook for a more minute. By now, the brown sugar filling mixture will be melted. Serve hot!

14. Repeat steps 11 to 13 with the remaining dough balls.

Enjoy!!!!