Name: Potato and mussel pancakes with sesame dipping sauce
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 kg mussels, scrubbed; 2 Desiree potatoes (about 250gm each); 2 spring onions, thinly sliced, plus extra to serve; 2 garlic cloves, finely grated; 1 long red chilli, finely chopped, plus extra to serve; 1 bunch garlic chives, cut into 2cm batons; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 30 gm plain flour; 30 gm rice flour; 125 ml (½ cup) vegetable oil; To serve: sesame seeds; Sesame dipping sauce; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp Asian sesame paste (see note); 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar; 1 tsp sesame seeds; 1 birdseye chilli, thinly sliced

Potato and mussel pancakes with sesame dipping sauce

Alice Storey recipe for potato and mussel pancakes with sesame dipping sauce.

Prep

40M

Cook

25M

Total

1H 5M

Mussels add a great briny flavour to these pancakes, inspired by the jeon of Korea. This recipe makes about 40 pancakes.

Ingredients

1 kg mussels, scrubbed

2 Desiree potatoes (about 250gm each)

2 spring onions, thinly sliced, plus extra to serve

2 garlic cloves, finely grated

1 long red chilli, finely chopped, plus extra to serve

1 bunch garlic chives, cut into 2cm batons

1 egg, lightly beaten

30 gm plain flour

30 gm rice flour

125 ml (½ cup) vegetable oil

To serve: sesame seeds

Sesame dipping sauce

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp Asian sesame paste (see note)

1 tbsp rice wine vinegar

1 tsp sesame seeds

1 birdseye chilli, thinly sliced

Method

Main

1.Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add mussels and 125ml water. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until mussels open (2-3 minutes). Drain (discard liquid) and set aside to cool. Remove mussels from shells, remove beards and refrigerate.

2.Finely grate potatoes, squeeze out excess liquid, then combine in a bowl with mussels, spring onion, garlic, chilli, garlic chives and egg. Sieve in flours, stir to combine and season to taste.

3.For sesame dipping sauce, whisk ingredients with 1 tbsp warm water in a bowl.

4.Heat 1½ tbsp oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add heaped tablespoons of batter, ensuring each has a mussel in it, and cook, turning once, until golden and crisp (2-2½ minutes each side). Repeat with remaining oil and batter, then scatter with sesame seeds, chilli and spring onion and serve with sesame dipping sauce.

Note Sesame paste is available from select Asian grocers. If it’s unavailable, substitute tahini.
Drink Suggestion: Bone-dry fino Sherry. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes