Hobak Jeon

Tender zucchini slices protected by a thin golden egg coating. A soft interior with a lightly seared surface, served with a sharp, salty dipping sauce.

• Prep time: 15 min
• Cook time: 10 min
• Difficulty: Easy
• Calories: 212
• Protein: 7 g
• Carbs: 13 g
• Fat: 14 g

Ingredients

• 2 piece Zucchini ( in 5mm rounds )
• 50 g Wheat flour ( for dredging )
• 2 piece Egg ( beaten )
• 2 pinch Fleur de sel
• 3 tbsp Sunflower oil ( for frying )
• 2 tbsp Korean soy sauce ( for the sauce )
• 1 tbsp Rice vinegar ( for the sauce )
• 1 pinch gochugaru ( for the sauce )
• 1 pinch sesame seeds ( for the sauce )
• 1 piece Korean zucchini (Aehobak) ( washed and dried )

Instructions

1. Vegetable preparation

   Slice the zucchinis and aehobak into regular 5 mm thick rounds. Lay them flat and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Let them sweat for 5 minutes until moisture beads on the surface, then pat dry with a clean cloth.

2. Flouring the vegetables

   Place the flour in a container. Coat each zucchini and aehobak slice in the flour. Firmly tap each slice to remove excess: the layer should be thin and translucent.

3. Egg coating

   Beat the eggs in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Dip the floured rounds into the beaten egg at the last moment, just before putting them in the pan.

4. Pan-frying

   Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Place the rounds in the pan without touching each other. Cook for 2 minutes per side. The egg should be just golden and the flesh should soften without falling apart.

5. Preparing the sauce

   Mix the soy sauce, rice vinegar, gochugaru, and sesame seeds in a small ramekin. Serve the fritters piping hot with the sauce for dipping.

Chef's tips

• Do not overcook: the zucchini should retain a slight bite in the center.
• Dry the slices thoroughly after salting, otherwise the flour will become clumpy and pasty.
• The pan should not be smoking hot, or the egg will burn before the vegetable cooks through.

Storage

Must be eaten immediately. The pancakes lose their crispness and become soggy in the refrigerator.