Chinese Crepes Recipe（Tianjin-style jianbing）

Today I'm going to introduce you to a recipe for crepes—Chinese Crepes..Is a famous specialty snack from Tianjin, China, are enjoyed by locals as a popular breakfast choice. They can be found everywhere in the streets and alleys of Shandong and Hebei provinces as well. With modern development, Chinese Crepes have evolved into a traditional snack popular across the country, beloved by people nationwide.

Chinese Crepes（煎饼果子）are a delicious and healthy food that deserves to be tasted and understood more. I hope the following recipe can provide you with useful information and inspiration, deepening your appreciation and love for Chinese Crepes, and encouraging you to give them a try.

1.What is Chinese Crepes?

Chinese Crepes originate from the northern regions of China, particularly Tianjin. Their history can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty when they were a popular street food snack. Over time, Chinese Crepes evolved into a distinctive specialty of Tianjin, becoming an integral part of Tianjin's culinary culture.

In the authentic preparation of Chinese Crepes, mung bean batter is spread on a griddle, cooked, then topped with egg and sprinkled with chopped scallions. After spreading evenly, it is flipped and transferred to another griddle to brush on sauce. The recipe shared today, however, doesn't use mung beans, making it simpler and suitable for home cooking.

2.What ingredients do you need?

Batter: Typically, you can use all-purpose flour. Here, I mainly use 150g of flour mixed with 258g of water to make the batter. This ratio creates just the right consistency for the batter.

Youtiao: When making Chinese Crepes, the main filling is usually youtiao, also known as "Chinese fried dough sticks" or "Chinese crullers."

Egg: Typically, a beaten egg is cracked onto the spread-out pancake to enhance its flavor.

Sauce: Here, I've chosen two types of sauce, sweet and spicy sauce along with tomato sauce. There are many options for sauce selection, so you can adjust according to your own taste preferences.

Black sesame seeds: Black sesame seeds are typically sprinkled on top right after the egg is spread evenly on the pancake but before the egg sets, allowing the sesame seeds to adhere better to the egg.

These ingredients are generally available at Asian supermarkets.

3.What equipment do you need?

Chinese Crepes typically don't require any special equipment. Here, I use a regular non-stick frying pan for cooking.

You only need a non-stick frying pan heated over medium-low heat. Pour in a suitable amount of batter and use a spatula to spread it out into a pancake shape. Of course, beginners can opt for equipment like an electric griddle. An electric griddle provides more even temperature distribution and precise heat control, making it less likely for the batter to stick to the pan.

4.How to enjoy Chinese Crepes for the best taste?

Enjoy while hot: Chinese Crepes are best enjoyed hot because the heat enhances the soft texture and brings out the flavors of the various ingredients. The texture and taste of Chinese Crepes deteriorate significantly when they cool down, so it's recommended to eat them fresh and hot.

Beverage Pairing: To balance the flavors, Chinese Crepes can be enjoyed with beverages like milk or honey passion fruit juice. This combination allows you to savor the deliciousness of Chinese Crepes while ensuring balanced nutrition.

Now, let's step into the kitchen and follow these steps to make a delicious Chinese Crepe together! Remember to enjoy the process of cooking and the happiness that good food brings us!