WELCOME TO OUR KITCHEN: We're making vegetable pancakes!

Cooking with Bruce and Mark

Vegetable pancakes? What an easy lunch, snack, or even dinner! Mark's been cooking much more vegan fare lately, so this recipe is one that he's now made countless times: a richly stocked vegetable pancake, sort of based on Korean vegetable pancakes (yachaejeon or 야채전), but packed with more vegetables and able to withstand many substitutions, based on the types of vegetables you like. No roots, all quick-cooking vegetables, please. And all cut to matchsticks or shredded through the large holes of a box grater. But then you're good to go.

We're Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough, authors of three-dozen cookbooks (with a new one due to our publisher within the next month). We love to share our passion for food and cooking with you. Thanks for coming along with us.

If you'd like to see our latest cookbook, check out THE LOOK & COOK AIR FRYER BIBLE here.

Here are the segments for this episode of COOKING WITH BRUCE & MARK:

[00:45] Our one-minute cooking tip: Toast whole spices in a dry skillet for more flavor.

[03:58] Let's make vegetable pancakes!

Here's the recipe:

Thinly slice, shred, or turn into matchsticks all of the following: 1 carrot, 1 small peeled onion, 4 or 5 shiitake mushroom caps, and 1 medium fresh jalapeño, stemmed and cored. Also shred or cut 1 medium zucchini into matchsticks, then squeeze these dry over the sink to get rid of excess moisture.

Stir in a large bowl 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose or plain flour, 1/4 cup (28 grams) cornstarch or corn flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 cup (240 ml) water.

Add the vegetables and stir until well coated and combined.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, then swirl in a little toasted sesame oil. Add the vegetable mixture and spread it into an even pancake. Cook until golden, even browned, about 6 minutes. Use the courage of your convictions to flip the pancake, then continue cooking until golden-brown on the other side, about 6 minutes. Slide the pancake out onto a cutting board.

As it cools, whisk together an easy dipping sauce: 1 tablespoon (15 ml) toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) soy sauce, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) unseasoned rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon agave syrup or granulated white sugar, and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) red chili oil.

Cut the pancake into pie wedges and serve with the dipping sauce on the side.

[18:50] What’s making us happy in food this week? Mushroom ketchup and a men's game dinner.