전 (Jeon): The Korean Pancake Tradition

Jeon — the Korean pancake tradition — encompasses preparations from the delicate haemul pajeon (seafood green onion pancake) to the dense bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), each with different batter compositions and different frying techniques. Jeon is the quintessential rainy-day food in Korean culture — the sound of jeon frying in a pan is said to sound like rain, creating an emotional association that has made jeon the comfort food of Korean cuisine.

The jeon system — techniques and varieties.

• Chinese cong you bing (green onion pancake — same concept, different batter and technique), Japanese okonomiyaki (same savoury pancake tradition — richer batter, more toppings), Vietnamese bánh xèo (s