If you are a fan of dim sum there is a special treat waiting for you: Trader Joe's Green Onion Pancakes are new. So whether you call these green onion pancakes or scallion pancakes it is referring to the same side dish.
The taste
So if savory pancakes are your thing, then you are in luck. This isn't the eggy type of pancake. And don't expect silver dollar-sized pancakes either. These pancakes measure just about 7 inches.
This pancake is unique as it is made from dough rather than batter. That gives you the opportunity to get layers and layers of flavor and texture. And in each bite is a bit of the green onion flavor. It's all savory but still delicious.
When you prepare this you'll get the extra crispiness from frying these up to make this a bit more complex on the tongue.
But whether you make this on the stovetop or in the air fryer these are very well done. They are right on par with what I'd expect to get in the Asian grocery store. This package is made in Taiwan so it would seem they are pretty authentic.
The most similar product in terms of texture that I can compare this to is Trader Joe's Malabari Paratha. It had similar layers but was quite different in terms of taste.
And did I mention how big these are? One would make a nice snack if not a meal along with some fried rice.
The packaging
The packaging here is pretty straightforward. The exterior bag is not resealable so if you aren't enjoying all the pancakes in a single sitting you'll need to seal these up again. Each pancake is separated by some wax paper.
If you are going to be making all of these then you'll want to temporarily put these back in the freezer as the dough becomes sticky as it thaws. While wax paper separates the pancakes you'll still want to take those extra precautions as
At nearly 7 inches this will probably require a bigger pan than you might normally go for which leads to just a bit more cooking time if you are making more than 1. You'll probably have to cook this one by one.
A quick comparison
So if you are saying to yourself, "doesn't Trader Joe's already sells a scallion pancake in the freezer already?" They do. Trader Joe's sells both this and Pa Jeon which is a Korean scallion pancake. This is Cong You Bing which is made from dough as opposed to the Korean pancake which is made from batter.
Pa Jeon is eggier in taste and this scallion pancake is made up of several flaky layers of crisp dough on the outside and a tender inside.
Which one is better to buy? I prefer this, however, both are totally solid choices in the freezer section to which I recommend both.
The directions
The directions are vague at best here and rely on the home user to eyeball it. So below are my recommendations for cooking this properly
Stove top
These are large pancakes at almost seven inches in diameter. Heat a frying pan until hot. Add a bit of oil to the bottom of a frying pan and cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat.
Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400F. While it is preheating, quarter your pancakes. This step reduces cooking time as the surface area is reduced. Place in air fryer basket. Cook for 4-6 minutes until the outside is golden brown.
The layers become more pronounced this way, but this way tastes less greasy. In my onion, air fry was better than pan fry.
Dipping Sauces
If you enjoy this then feel free to use soy sauce or some gyoza dipping sauce to enhance this further. My favorite Chinese restaurant used to use a bit of peanut butter with soy, rice vinegar, sesame oil, scallions, and some sesame seeds to dip theirs in.
Feel free to get creative and share in the comments how you would enjoy this.
Overall
For $2.49 these are an awesome find for an easy dinner or delicious appetizer. Five come in a package making this a pretty affordable item.
Would I buy this again? I've already purchased Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes a few times since they hit shelves. These are excellent. They are as good as any I've had from local Asian grocery stores' frozen food. And yes, these are made in Taiwan.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
A visual rundown of this product
Here is what you can expect if you purchase this product:
Packaging of Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes:
Trader Joe's Scallion Pancake ingredients, cooking instructions, and nutritional facts:
Description of this product:
The finished scallion pancakes from Traer Joe's:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes
Product Name: Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes
Product Description: Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes are new and noteworthy in the freezer section.
Price: $2.49
Summary
Trader Joe's Taiwanese Green Onion Pancakes is a new and noteworthy addition to the freezer aisle.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- A very well-done Scallion pancake
- Flavorful on its own and doesn't need anything added to be enjoyed
Cons
- Packaging could be made to be resealable.
EllenLV says
Thanks Brenda, I will get these, you have never steered me wrong.
Ricky Jones says
These are my fav new item at trader Joe's. I went threw so many packs already. You are in for a treat.
A lot of carbs per piece tho is the only bad thing
Alek says
Great idea for crouton topping. Airfry then cut into squares
Melissa says
They come 5 to a package, not 4. An even better value!
becomebetty says
You are correct Melissa. I'll make the correction.
Plinio says
Any idea why it can't be found anymore? Has it been discontinued ?
Jodi says
No! They were delayed on a ship! I just got some, but had been waiting for 2 months!
Denis says
"In my onion, air fry was better than pan fry." I saw what you did there. lol
becomebetty says
Thanks for pointing out the typo, I'll have to go into the post and fix it.
y R says
MY trader joes doesn't have these
becomebetty says
These have been in and out of stock more often then not. I know it has been spotty at my local store too.
Roxanne says
They are fantastic! I prepare in a very lightly oiled cast iron pan, med high heat until both sides are brown and crispy. The chewy, crispy and layers are satisfying. Lately, I have been enjoying by itself as a snack, but often prepare the as an accompaniment to a vegetable stir fry. At your mention, I will next try them with a dipping sauce. I keep 1-3 packages in the freezer always!
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Roxanne!
Bonnee says
I was intrigued by the opening statement of your review which stated: "So if savory pancakes are your thing, then you are in luck. "
Truthfully?
Mine would read as follows: "So if bland and flavorless pancakes are your thing, then you are in luck."
I was so happy to try this but ended up incredibly disappointed once I tried one. If there are onions (of any type) in these pancakes they are invisible to the taste. Yes, I see some green (even after dismantling one because it was so flavorless) but cannot imagine that they were not dried.
And no matter what other things I tried to enhance the taste -- they were (and are) tasteless...
I have had them in my freezer now for months and seeing no way in which they can be redeemed decided today to toss them.
You win some.
You lose some.
These were like vanilla ice cream without the vanilla. (Puzzling and disconcerting to say the least.)
I am glad I tried them but will not be buying them again.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!