Scallion Cakes
Ingredients
- 5 cup flour
- 3/4 pint boiling water
- 1 or 2 Tbs cold water
- 1 or 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 ounce margarine or butter
- 12 ounce chopped scallions (about 35)
- peanut or corn oil for frying
Instructions
Sift flour into a large bowl. Pour in the boiling water gradually and mix with a fork. Rub together with fingers while the flour is still warm. Add the cold water and knead to form a firm, but not hard, dough. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Oil a flat surface and a rolling pin with 1 tsp sesame oil. Place dough on oiled surface. Knead a few times and divide into 6 pieces. Roll out one piece into a 6 - 7 inch circle with the edges slightly thinner than the middle. Sprinkle all over with a good 1/4 tsp of salt and press in with your fingers. Generously spread with 1/2 oz margarine all over, stopping just short of edges. Spread with about 5 Tbs of chopped scallions. With both hands, pick of the sides nearest you and roll the cake up away from you (like a jellyroll), taking care not to let the scallions fall out. The dough should now be in a cylindrical shape. Pinch the ends closed and roll towards each other until the dough is ball-shaped. Gently roll the ball out until it's about 6 inches across. Don't worry if the surface of the cake bursts while you're rolling (this *always* happens to me!). Repeat for each piece of dough. Heat a heavy, flat frying pan until hot. Add 2 Tbs oil. Fry the cakes over low heat, covered, for 4 or 5 minutes or until spotted brown. Turn over and fry the other side likewise. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Serve hot.