Chinese Scallion Bread Recipes

BAKED SCALLION BREAD

Steps:

• Whisk the flour and water inside a saucepan until the flour dissolves.
• Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture frequently. In about 30 seconds to a minute, the flour will start to thicken. Don't walk away during this process as you can quickly burn the tangzhong! Once the runny liquid absorbs into the paste, turn off the heat. See note 4 for microwave tangzhong directions.
• Transfer the tangzhong to a bowl to cool.
• Lightly grease a large mixing bowl with oil. Set it aside.
• Heat the milk in the microwave for about 30 to 40 seconds. Then, add the sugar to the milk. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the milk. It should be somewhere around 110ºF to 120ºF.
• Add the yeast and stir to hydrate the yeast. Let it sit for 5 to 8 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. After 5 to 8 minutes, the milk/yeast mixture will foam up.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Add the condensed milk, egg, melted butter, tangzhong, and foamy milk/yeast mixture.
• Fit the mixer with the dough hook. Mix the dough on low until you don't see any loose flour on the sides of the bowl. This should take 30 seconds to a minute. Then, increase the speed to medium-low and work the dough for 8 minutes.
• Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times. If the dough is feeling tacky, lightly dust your hands with flour.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place inside the greased mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic (or a silicone lid) and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until the dough doubles in size.
• About 5 to 10 minutes before you're ready to shape the loaves, prepare the scallions. In a bowl, mix the sliced scallions with 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Set the bowl aside and let the scallions soften slightly.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside.
• Once doubled, punch down the dough to release excess air. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, about 365 to 370 grams each.
• Place one half back into the bowl and cover it. Take the other half and divide the dough into 3 equal pieces, about 120 to 125 grams each.
• Take 1 small piece of dough and knead it a few times to get rid of any air pockets. Then, shape the dough into a small oval. Roll out the dough into a long rectangle of about 14 inches by 4 inches. Brush 3/4 teaspoon of sesame oil over the dough. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of kosher salt over the dough.
• Scoop up about 1 tablespoon of the scallions, and spread it alongside the bottom edge of the rolled out dough. Starting with the bottom edge, roll up the dough into a rope. Pinch the ends of the dough rope to seal the openings. Set this dough rope aside.
• Roll out the 2 dough pieces, fill with scallions, and shape into dough ropes.
• Line up the 3 ropes of dough and pinch together the ends on one side. Braid the strands. Once you reach the end of the braid, pinch the ends. Tuck both ends underneath the braided loaf.
• Transfer the loaf to your lined baking sheet. Lay the loaves diagonally on the sheet pan so that they have room to expand when they proof and bake.
• Shape the remaining dough half into a second loaf. (See note 5)
• Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap. Let them proof for about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, until they double in size. (See note 6)
• When the loaves are nearly done proofing, preheat the oven to 350ºF. Position an oven rack to the center position.
• Lightly beat an egg with 1 tablespoon of milk. Set the egg wash aside.
• Carefully peel away the plastic wrap and gently brush the loaves with a thin layer of egg wash. Be careful not to flood the creases with egg wash. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and flaked salt (if using) over the loaves. Finally, spread any remaining scallions over the two loaves. I like to add the scallions to the creases of the loaves.
• Bake the bread for 22 to 24 minutes, until the bread is golden brown on top. Let the bread cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Enjoy while they're still warm!
• You can store the loaves in a container at room temperature for up to 2 days. See note 7 for freezing directions.

CHEF JOHN'S CHINESE SCALLION PANCAKES

Steps:

• Combine bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in hot water. Mix together with a wooden spoon to form a shaggy dough.
• Transfer dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead dough until sticky but relatively smooth and elastic, dusting with a minimal amount of flour if needed. Wrap in plastic wrap and let dough rest for 2 hours.
• Mix vegetable oil, sesame oil, and flour together in a skillet over medium heat until starting to bubble, about 3 minutes. Cook for 1 minute more. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Unwrap dough and cut in half. Roll out into a tube and press down with your fingers. Use a rolling pin to flatten dough into a rectangular shape about 1/8-inch thick, flipping over and dusting lightly with flour halfway through.
• Paint surface of the dough with the oil mixture until just covered, leaving 1 inch of space on the edges. Sprinkle scallions on top. Roll dough up tightly to seal in the scallions, starting with the long side. Pull the opposite edge over the top once you have reached it.
• Coil 1 end of the dough inward toward the middle; wrap the opposite end around the coil to finish, tucking the tip under the bottom. Dust the coil with flour and roll dough out into a pancake about 1/4-inch thick. Repeat with remaining dough, oil, and green onions to make the second pancake.
• Heat vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add 1 pancake; lower heat to medium. Cook until crispy and browned, about 4 minutes per side. Repeat with the other pancake. Cut into wedges.

CHINESE SCALLION PANCAKES

Steps:

• Place flour in a large bowl; stir in boiling water until dough forms a ball. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 4-6 minutes. Place in a large bowl; cover and let rest for 30 minutes., Divide dough into 8 portions; roll each portion into an 8-in. circle. Brush with 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil; sprinkle with 1 heaping tablespoon of green onion and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Roll into a thin cylinder (jelly-roll style); starting at one end, twist cylinder onto itself forming a coil, pinching to seal. Flatten slightly. Roll each coil to 1/8-in. thickness., In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil. Over medium-high heat, cook 1 pancake at a time until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. Serve with pancakes.

CHINESE SCALLION BREAD

Steps:

• Set up a food processor and combine the All-Purpose Flour (1 cup), Salt (1 teaspoon), and Baking Powder (1/2 teaspoon) in its bowl. Pulse it a couple of times to aerate the dry ingredients.
• Run the processor while you pour the Water (1/2 cup) in until you have a sticky dough form.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured and clean surface and bring it together into a smooth ball.
• Transfer the ball of dough to a bowl and pour the Sesame Oil (2 tablespoon) over it. Make sure it is all coated in the sesame oil, then cover it and let it rest for an hour.
• When it is done resting, roll it out into a large rectangle that is about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle enough of the Scallion (1 bunch) on the rectangle to pretty well cover it in a single layer.
• Roll up the long side of the rectangle tightly over the scallions so that you have a long log. Take the log and roll it tightly into a spiral that looks like a snail shell. Roll out the snail shell to be a thin round pancake.
• Then heat about 2 inches of Canola Oil (as needed) in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Once the oil is hot, pan fry the scallion bread for 3-4 minutes on each side to get it golden brown and crispy on the outside. It will puff up and the interior needs to cook too.
• When it is done, transfer it to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain it. Then cut it into quarters and serve it immediately with a delicious Chinese meal! Enjoy!

PAN-FRIED SCALLION & CHIVE BREAD (CHONG YU BING)

Steps:

• Combine oil and chili oil in a small dish and set aside. Combine scallions, cilantro and chives in another bowl and set aside.
• Combine flour and baking powder in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the flat paddle. With machine running on low speed, add hot and cold water in quick succession. Stop machine as soon as dough comes together in a soft ball. If it's very tacky and sticky, add a bit more flour.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes. (If the dough has been made in a food processor, let rest 40 minutes.) Roll gently into a smooth log. Cut evenly into 4 pieces, then put each piece, cut side down, on the lightly floured board. Cover with plastic wrap.
• Working with a piece at a time, shape dough by rolling into a thin, even circle about 7 ½ inches in diameter. Brush top with a generous film of the oil mixture, then sprinkle evenly with a rounded ¼ teaspoon salt. Heap dough with 2/3 cup of reserved greens, then spread evenly over top. Roll up dough into a fat cylinder - it doesn't need to be too tight. Grasp one end of the dough and wind other end around it in a tight spiral. Tuck tail end underneath and press lightly with your hand to flatten. Gently roll out into a 6-inch circle. Put aside on a freshly floured spot, then repeat with remaining dough.
• Cook breads immediately to prevent a soggy texture. Heat an 8- to 10-inch heavy skillet over high heat until a bead of water evaporates on contact. Add enough oil to glaze bottom by 1/8 inch, swirling to coat; reduce heat to moderate. When oil is hot enough to foam a pinch of flour, add first bread to pan. Cook until bottom is golden and a bit crusty, 3 to 4 minutes. Adjust heat so bread doesn't scorch. Flip and fry until golden, about 3 minutes longer. Remove to paper towel-lined plate. Repeat process with oil and remaining dough.
• Serve breads fresh from skillet, each cut into fourths. Or let cool and hold at room temperature up to 8 hours. Reheat in 350°F oven until hot, about 5 minutes.

CHINESE SCALLION PANCAKES

Steps:

• Mix flour and 1 teaspoon salt together in a large bowl; pour in boiling water and quickly mix together until water is absorbed. Work cold water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into flour mixture just until dough forms. Knead dough for 10 minutes. Cover bowl with a damp cloth and let dough rest for 40 minutes.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface; divide into 4 equal pieces.
• Roll 1 piece of dough into a large thin round; brush the top with vegetable oil and sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 the green onions. Pick up 1 end of the round and roll dough around green onions into a long scroll-shape. Take 1 scroll end and roll dough into a disk. Repeat with remaining dough, letting each disk rest for 10 minutes.
• Heat about 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Place 1 disk on a floured surface and roll into a 1/2-inch thick round; cook in the hot oil until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining disks.