Snack · Griddled

Hotteok (Sweet Filled Pancake)

📷 Closely related photo — Photo: Zeynep S. / Unsplash · Unsplash License

Hotteok is thought to have come to Korea with Chinese merchants in the late 19th century — the 'ho' in its name was used for things from the north.

A sweet, chewy pancake filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts, pressed flat on a griddle until the filling turns molten, sold hot especially in winter months.

Why it's made this way: The dough's yeasted chew and the pressing technique keep the sugar filling from leaking out until you actually bite into it — a texture engineered for eating on the move.