Jianbing Guozi (Tianjin Savory Crepe with Egg and Crisp)
Local name: 煎饼果子
In short: Thin savory crepe cooked with an egg, scallions and sesame, brushed with sweet bean sauce and rolled around a crisp cracker. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 435 kcal
Jianbing guozi is the breakfast of Tianjin and much of northern China, made to order at street carts by cooks who spread batter across a hot griddle in seconds. A thin crepe is topped with a cracked egg, scallion, cilantro and sesame, painted with sweet bean sauce and chili, and wrapped around a crisp fried cracker. The mix of soft, crunchy and sweet-savory is the point. Eat it hot and fast.
Instructions
- Whisk the two flours, water and salt until smooth. Rest the batter for 20 minutes while you make the crisps.
- Heat the frying oil in a small pan to 180°C (350°F). Fry the wonton wrappers in batches for 15 to 20 seconds each until puffed and golden. Drain on paper towels.
- Heat a 25 cm (10 in) nonstick pan over medium heat and wipe it lightly with oil. Pour in a quarter of the batter and swirl quickly into a very thin round. Cook for 1 minute until set.
- Crack an egg onto the crepe, break the yolk and spread it thinly with a spatula. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, scallion and cilantro and cook for 30 seconds.
- Flip the crepe. Brush the new top with a spoonful of sweet bean sauce mixed with a little chili sauce. Lay 3 crisps in the center.
- Fold the edges in over the crisps to make a rectangle, then roll it up. Cut in half and serve right away. Repeat with the remaining batter.
Tips
- A fried dough stick (youtiao) is the traditional filling. Cut it to fit if you can buy one. Otherwise the wonton crisps work just as well.
- Keep the pan at medium heat. If it is too hot, the batter sets before you can spread it thin.
Questions and answers
Can I make jianbing without mung bean flour?
Yes. Use all-purpose flour only, or add a spoonful of cornstarch for a more tender crepe. Mung bean flour gives a slightly nutty flavor and sturdier texture.
Can I make the batter ahead?
Yes. It keeps for 2 days in the fridge. Stir it well and add a splash of water if it thickens.
Is jianbing spicy?
Only if you add chili sauce. Many stalls ask how much you want, so you can leave it out for a mild, sweet-savory crepe.
How long does it take to make Jianbing Guozi (Tianjin Savory Crepe with Egg and Crisp)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Jianbing Guozi (Tianjin Savory Crepe with Egg and Crisp)?
About 435 kcal per serving, with 15 g of protein, 60 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 435 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 60 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
