Chive Pancakes (韭菜煎饼)

Prepare the dried shrimp: Place the dried shrimp in a bowl and pour hot water over them. Let them soak to soften for about 5 minutes.

Wash the chives thoroughly. Align the chives and trim off the hard, old ends. Finely chop the white parts of the chives, then chop the green parts into longer segments.

Transfer the chopped chives to a large mixing bowl. Add the all-purpose flour and water to the bowl.

Stir the chives, flour, and water until a smooth batter is formed. The consistency should not be too watery or too thick.

Drain the soaked dried shrimp and finely chop them. Heat a small pan with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over medium heat. Add the chopped dried shrimp and stir-fry until golden brown and fragrant.

Immediately add the hot fried dried shrimp and oil to the chive batter. Stir quickly to combine.

Season the batter with salt, sugar, and a generous amount of white pepper. Stir until all seasonings are well incorporated.

Heat a large frying pan over medium-low heat and add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Once hot, pour one ladleful of batter into the pan, spreading it thinly and evenly to form a pancake.

Cook the pancake until the edges start to crisp and turn golden brown, and the center appears set. Gently loosen the edges with a spatula.

Flip the pancake and increase the heat slightly to medium-high. Cook the other side until it is also golden brown and crispy. Ensure it is cooked through.

Remove the cooked pancake from the pan and place it on a plate. Repeat the process with the remaining batter, adding more cooking oil as needed for each pancake.