LWOM: Kimchi Pancakes, Okonomiyaki (and Other Things Tacky, From Sam-I-Am)

I’m not Sam–but take a look!

Sam-I-am is in this book.

I’m sure you all know how Sam-I-am…

Loves a good dish of green eggs and ham.

But the question to ask,

We must take to task!

It’s not such a crime…

We’ll ask, “Do pancakes buzz?”

(But that doesn’t rhyme!)

(Well now it does.)

Would they

buzz over coffee?

(Try feeding them toffee!)

Or would they

buzz o’er papers?

(If you paired them with capers.)

Do they sound a bit tacky?

(Just like okonomiyaki.)

But what could that mean?

(We hope it’s nothing obscene.)

Are you sure that’s a pancake?

Why, what else could it be? 

It’s not a waffle

or a donut

or a pig

or a tree.

(And better still, we think it’s made of kimchi!)

So whether or not these pancakes do buzz

or chuckle

or snarfle

or gigglerooruzz,

And whether they’re made of red clouds

or green bean,

Have some okonomiyaki–

(BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?)

So now we conclude without really concluding

Our noggins confuzzled and our parents deluding.

Here was the tale of our pancakes a-buzz.

But we know you will love them–

At least, Sam-I-am sure does.

This post is part of the Lit, Wit, and an Oven Mitt (LWOM) series here at Wallflour Girl, where Ala takes a popular or classic literary character and uses him/her/it to tell a story about her recipes.  Ala is an English literature graduate student with a strong interest in children’s literature, Victorian lit, and everything in between, beyond, bubbly, or burgundy. Ala does not own the rights to any of these characters or original literary texts, although she does own pancakes that are neither pigs nor trees. This series is intended to offer you a glimpse into her world through our shared love for food. Please let Ala know what you think of these stories–she’d love to hear what you think (with a smile and a wink).

Thank you all for your wonderfully kind comments about the first installment of Lit, Wit, and an Oven Mitt with last week’s Pooh article! They touched my heart, and I hope these stories continue to return the favor.

Kimchi Pancakes

Yield: 1 medium pancake

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chopped kimchi
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-2 tablespoons kimchi juice
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped onion (optional)
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• Pinch of salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Lightly oil a medium-sized pan over medium heat, then pour batter into heated pan. Cook on one side for approximately 1 minute, until the bottom is cooked through and you can lift it easily from underneath with a spatula. Flip and continue to cook for an additional minute, until golden brown and crispy.
2. Serve to Sam-I-am, who loves a good bake and a kimchi pancake!

Okonomiyaki

Yield: 1 medium pancake

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks green onions, chopped
• 1 cup cabbage, chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1/2 bellpepper, chopped
• Other vegetables (your preference)
• Mayonnaise, BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour and water, and whisk until smooth. Add egg and salt; stir in until just incorporated. Do not overmix, or your batter will become tough.
2. In a medium frying pan, heat up a small amount of oil and stir-fry onions until they begin to become translucent. Add remaining vegetables and stir-fry until cooked through. (You can use most any vegetable–or other ingredient–that you fancy.) Add cooked vegetables to batter and fold in.
3.  Lightly oil a pan over medium heat, then pour batter into heated pan. Cook on one side for approximately 1 minute, until the bottom is cooked through and you can lift it easily from underneath with a spatula. Flip and continue to cook for an additional minute, until golden brown and crispy.
4. Top with mayonnaise and BBQ sauce.
5. Serve to Sam-I-am, who loves all things tacky (especially okonomiyaki).