Chinese Pastry

Flaky Spring Onion Cake  蔥油餅

Loving this flaky spring onion cake ever since I know what pastry’s all about. Loving it just as much as pineapple buns, baguettes, croissants, brioches, nan bread, bagels ……. U know what I mean if u r from this region.

Dough

4 cups plain flour

pinch of salt

1&1/2 cup cold water

• Put the flour and salt in a large bowl.
• Stir in about half of the cold water to rub the flour by using your hand. Gradually add the rest of the water just enough to continue to bind the dough together. (note: Only add enough water to bind the dough and then stop.) The dough should feel moist but not wet and look slightly glossy.
• Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill for 15 - 30 minutes before using.

Filling

lots of spring onion, chopped in large

2/3 cup oil

salt

Meanwhile, stir-fry spring onion with oil in medium heat but not colored, season to taste and set aside.

Cake

• Now roll out the dough to about 1 cm thickness. Fold the 2 sides of the circle toward the middle and roll it out once again to 1cm thickness.
• Cut out one rectangular 2x4 inches of dough, then roll it out flat until about 1/3-1/4 cm thickness and 25 cm length wise.

• Place filling onto the centre along the dough. 
• Roll one lengthen side towards the other to close the filling inside the pastry. 
• Now holding onto the tip of one end as the center point and turn the dough around in circular direction until it resembles a snail.

• Pan-fry the cake in low heat until cooked and slightly golden.
• Serve hot or reheat before serving.

The same recipe could apply to make other cakes, such as juicy beef cake 牛肉餅 by replacing the filling with

Filling

ground / sliced beef

1 leek, shredded

olive oil for cooking

Seasoning

¼ cup water

1tsp cornstarch

1tsp sesame oil

1tsp light soya sauce

1tsp oyster sauce

2tsp sugar

½tsp salt

a pinch of white pepper (optional)

• Marinate the meat with seasonings and chill for 30 mins
• Stir-fry leeks until soft but not colored. Add in beef in high heat then medium until almost cooked.
• Season to taste and set aside.

 Cake

• Roll out a circle of 12cm diameter at 1/3 to 1/4 thickness.
• Place a good spoonful of filling onto the center of dough and quickly bring the edges around the dough towards the center and twist the middle to close the wrap.

• Pan-fry the cake in low heat until cooked and slightly golden.
• Serve hot or reheat before serving.