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Dou Dou (豆豆)

Seaweed Pancakes — 紫菜煎餅

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients
  

  • 1 handful Dried seaweed 紫菜 torn into small pieces
  • 150 g Shimeji mushrooms 鴻喜菇 stems trimmed
  • ½ block Firm tofu 板豆腐 (200 g) crumbled
  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce paste 醬油膏 savoury umami
  • 1 tsp Curry powder 咖哩粉 subtle aroma
  • ½ cup All-purpose flour 中筋麵粉 to bind
  • 3 tbsp Sweet potato starch 地瓜粉 for chew & crispness
  • 3 tbsp Corn starch 玉米粉 crispy crust
  • ½ cup Water 清水 add gradually
  • as needed Oil 油 for frying

Method
 

  1. Trim the tough stems off the shimeji mushrooms and separate into small clusters, so they can mimic oysters. King oyster, enoki or button mushrooms also work.
  2. Crumble about half a block of firm tofu by hand into a large bowl — do not blend smooth. A full block makes the batter too wet.
  3. In the same bowl, tear the dried seaweed into small, uneven pieces. Uneven sizes are fine and add texture once fried.
  4. Add the mushroom clusters, soy sauce paste and a little curry powder, and mix well. Fold through the all-purpose flour, sweet potato starch and corn starch, then add water a little at a time until the batter is scoopable and slightly firm, not runny.
  5. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Spoon the batter in and pat flat — small patties are easier to flip. Fry until you hear a steady sizzle and the first side is golden, score into smaller pieces in the pan, then flip quickly and decisively. Cook until both sides are golden and crisp.
  6. Drain briefly and serve hot and crisp. The shimeji clusters resemble oysters, giving a taste like a Taiwanese oyster omelet (蚵仔煎) that is entirely plant-based. For a Korean twist, swap curry powder for gochugaru and top with kimchi.