This was my first real attempt at making any kind of Korean food. All those late nights spent watching random youtube and mukbang (Korean eating shows) just whetted my appetite for something nostalgic. Having lived with roommates for most of my adult life, I’ve tended to stay away from the kitchen and cook only the simplest meals or meal prep to reduce conflict and cleanup. Our lab’s holiday potluck was coming, and it was my first. I wanted to make something that I often ate at home. So I decided to make some kimchi jeon (pancakes). A spicy, sour, and savory dish. I was honestly surprised by the results and other people’s reactions to it. People have often told me that chemists make good cooks, so maybe I have a nice fallback plan just in case.
Kimchi jeon recipe: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/kimchijeon
Recipe
Kimchi Jeon
1/2 lb well-fermented kimchi (I just used about an entire tub, store-bought, chopped)
3 scallions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water
4 tbsps vegetable oil