Scallion Pancake Quesadillas

This week in recipes no one asked for: Scallion Pancake Quesadillas. Read also: things that should be in the Mission Chinese cookbook but aren’t. I decided it was time that the I fulfill my dream of turning the Asian tortilla (as I called it as a kid) into the cheesy goodness that is a Scallion Pancake Quesadilla. I have fond childhood memories of ordering scallion pancakes off of the “secret menu” at the one Chinese restaurant in my hometown. Somewhere out there an elderly man is laughing to himself about all the little kids he tricked into thinking they were Asian delicacy connoisseurs.

Chris Hadfield gets it. Source: Pozible
Scallion pancakes are actually pretty easy to make and you can make these in bulk at home with a bit of rolling and patience. Did I mention that a huge sheet of scallion pancakes is super beautiful? Be sure to get a ton of your favorite quesadilla cheese and get weird with your scallion pancake quesadillas.
Scallion Pancake Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 2 cups 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
- 2 bunches of scallions, chopped
- Shredded cheese of your choice (ex. Cheddar, Mozzarella, Monteray Jack, etc.)
- Chopped scallions (for serving)
- Soy sauce (for serving)
- Sour cream (for serving)
Instructions
- Make the dough. In a large mixing bowl, mix all-purpose flour with lukewarm water until smooth. Knead until elastic. Lightly coat in oil and return to covered mixing bowl to rest for 30-45 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Roll out down into a large, thin rectangle (~12×9″).
- Brush the dough with vegetable oil and then sprinkle with scallions and salt.
- Starting along the longest side of the dough rectangle, tightly roll up scallion dough to form a long snake. Divide in half.
- Starting at the tip of the snack, coil the dough into a smooth, flat bundle (think: cinnamon buns). Let rest for 30 minutes, or until you finish snaking the rest of the dough.
- Roll out the dough snakes into circular pancakes using your hands or a rolling pin.
- Cook the dough. Heat a heavy, large skillet with vegetable oil over high heat. When oil is shimmering // about to smoke, add a pancake gently to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, monitoring for color. Set aside on a sheet with paper towels. Repeat for all pancakes.
- Assemble quesadillas. Place shredded sheet on top of one pancake and cover with a second pancake. Heat a heavy skillet to low-medium heat with a touch of oil. Add pancakes to skillet and cover. Cook until cheese is melted.
- Serve scallion pancake quesadillas with chopped scallions, sour cream and soy sauce.
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