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Fish Pancakes (Daegujeon)

Stella

5 from 21 votes

Jan 12, 2024, Updated Apr 13, 2024

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I LOVE fish jeon! It’s so easy and quick to make, and it’s healthy. This is in my regular rotation of meals at home.

What is jeon?

Jeon is very similar to a fritter, but for some reason it’s described as a Korean pancake. It can be made with meat, fish, and even vegetables. They are coated in egg and pan fried.

Dishes like kimchi jeon and pajeon (scallion pancake) are a little different- these are mixed with flour and water, then pan fried until crispy. These are my husband’s favorite!

By the way, daegu means cod in Korean so thats why it’s called daegu jeon. Other types of fish are also used to make jeon and those have different names, like dongtae jeon which is made with pollack.

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Ingredients

• Cod- I use frozen wild cod from Costco. They are conveniently packaged in 8 oz portions. I let it thaw overnight in the fridge when I need it.
• Seasoning– salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• All purpose flour- for coating the fish so the egg sticks better.
• Egg- this is the “breading” for the fish.
• Neutral oil-  any neutral oil is fine. I recommend avocado oil.
• Chili peppers- this is optional! If I have peppers, I usually add them to any kind of jeon. It adds flavor and sometimes spice, depending on the type of pepper.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• It’s SO easy! You don’t need that many ingredients, and it can be ready in 15 minutes.
• It’s super healthy, low calorie, and tastes really good! Can you believe there are 36 grams of protein in such a small amount?
• This can be a main dish OR a side dish.

More jeon recipes

If you like this recipe, try some of my other jeon recipes on the blog!

5 from 21 votes

Fish Pancakes (Daegujeon)

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 8 oz cod fillet
• ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
• ▢ 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• ▢ pinch of black pepper
• ▢ 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 egg
• ▢ 1 tbsp neutral oil, avocado oil recommended
• ▢ 1 Korean pepper, optional

Dipping sauce (optional)

• ▢ 1 tbsp soy sauce
• ▢ 1 tbsp water
• ▢ 1 tsp plum syrup, or sweetener of your choice
• ▢ 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• ▢ 1/2 tsp gochugaru
• ▢ 1/2 tsp sesame seeds
• ▢ 1 garlic clove, minced
• ▢ 1 green onion, chopped

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Instructions 

• Crack one egg into a bowl and whisk with a pinch of salt. Set aside.
  
• If using peppers, slice 6 to 8 pieces thinly on a bias. Set aside.
  
• Pat the cod fillet dry with a paper towel and cut into 1/3 inch slices (6 to 8 pieces)
  
• Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder
  
• Coat each slice in flour
  
• Add neutral oil to a fry pan over medium low heat. One by one, dip the floured cod slices into the whisked egg, then put them in the fry pan. Add the sliced peppers on top if using.
  
• Flip over after 2-3 minutes, or when the bottom is golden brown with crispy edges. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  
• Rest on paper towels to collect any excess oil. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  

Dipping sauce (optional)

• Combine soy sauce, water, plum syrup, sesame oil, gochugaru, garlic, green onion, and sesame seeds.
  

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

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