Mandarin Pancakes

Looking for a way to change up your meals? Make these mandarin pancakes to serve up with moo shu vegetables or other favorite Chinese dishes for tasty meals! All you need are THREE ingredients to make up these Chinese crepes for dinner. Plus, they’re ready in just 30 minutes!

What are Mandarin Pancakes? 

Mandarin pancakes also go by the name, moo shu pancakes or maybe even mu shu pancakes. This Chinese dish with pancakes is a main course in which the stir fry is rolled up in the mandarin pancakes and eaten. For a vegan meal, they’re great eaten with moo shu vegetables.

The pancakes are savory with a chewy, yet light texture. Cooking the pancakes uses a unique technique where two pancakes are cooked together at the same time which gives them a perfectly thin consistency and tender texture.

Why This Recipe Works

• Moo shu wraps make a tasty homemade takeout option. That way you can make it just the way you like it!
• Budget-friendly. Making these pancake wraps at home for dinner is a great way to save on meals.
• Asian crepes make a fun, favorite family meal. 

What Goes Into This Recipe

Making this Chinese pancake recipe uses simple ingredients you probably already have available. Here is what you need:

• All-purpose flour: Gives the pancakes their structure.
• Salt: Essential for flavor.
• Water: You will be using both boiling water and cold water.
• Sesame oil: Adds great flavor to these pancake wraps. 

How To Make Mandarin Pancakes

Making these moo shu wraps is easy and perfect for any level cook!

• 1) Combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl and stir together. 

• 2) Pour in the boiling water and mix thoroughly. Next, add the cold water. Stir together until you have a rough dough. Cover with a damp dish towel and set aside for 10 minutes.

• 3) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead until it’s smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Be sure to dust with a little flour if the dough is sticky. 

• 4) Roll the dough into a 5-inch log, and cut into 8 pieces. 

• 5) Shape each piece into a 1-inch circle, and lightly brush one side with sesame oil. Do the same with another piece, then put the two pieces together with the oiled sides facing one another. Press to seal. Repeat with the remaining dough.

• 6) When you’ve got them all assembled, roll out each double circle into a 6-inch pancake.

• 7) Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet’s hot, add one pancake to the pan, and cook, shaking the pan, until bubbles appear on the surface, and the pancake begins to puff, around 30 seconds. 

• 8) Flip the pancake over and cook the other side in the same way. Remove from the heat, pull the pancakes apart, and arrange them on a plate. Repeat with the remaining pancakes. 

• 9) Serve immediately, or cover with a damp cloth and keep until ready to use. 

How do you know when the mandarin pancakes are done?

It’s easy and after a pancake or two you will definitely figure it out! Let your moo shu pancakes cook on the first side until you see bubbles form and the pancake puffs up.

When that happens, flip it over and continue to cook until the other side is nicely browned. Then it’s ready!

Expert Tips 

• Wrap the pancakes up in a towel to keep them warm before serving. This step also keeps them from drying out.
• These delicate pancakes dry out easily so when reheating make sure you use a damp towel to wrap them.
• Watch them closely as they cook so they don’t burn.
• Be sure to preheat the pan before adding the pancakes. This keeps them from sticking and also gives them a nicely browned side with great texture.
• It’s important to let the dough rest before kneading. This step allows the gluten to develop and slightly relax before you knead.
• Use a non-stick skillet for best results. Since we aren’t cooking the pancakes in oil this is essential.

FAQs

How to Serve Moo Shu Pancakes

Like a Chinese tortilla, these pancakes are most often served with moo shu stir fry but you can use them in other ways too! Use them anytime you need a basic flour wrapper for whatever you’re making. 

Here are some other dishes that would be quite tasty wrapped up in these moo shu shells!

• They’d be delicious with this vegan coconut curry or yellow lentil dal for a little fusion of flavors.
• Wrap up your favorite roasted vegetables or brown rice veggie stir fry.
• For a quick snack, spread an Asian crepe with a bit of yellow lentil hummus or curry white bean dip.
• Wrap up any Chinese dish with pancakes such as veggie kung pao.
• Nothing is better than vegan moo shu with these pancakes.

How to Store

Leftovers: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To extend the shelf life, store them in the freezer for up to three months. For best results, I suggest storing them with a piece of parchment paper in between each pancake so they don’t stick together. 

Reheat: The pancakes reheat really well in the microwave – around 10 seconds on each side, and they’re good as new. I suggest wrapping them in a damp towel to keep them a bit moist as they reheat.

More Asian Recipes

• Fried Brown Rice
• Vegan Sushi Rolls
• Thai Basil Tofu
• Spicy Sesame Tofu Stir Fry

Photos by Alfonso Revilla