빈대떡

Bindaetteok (빈대떡) is a thick, hearty savory pancake made primarily from soaked and ground mung beans (녹두, nokdu). The ground mung bean batter gives the pancake a distinctive pale yellow-green color and a nutty, earthy flavor unlike any wheat-based pancake. Finely chopped kimchi, green onions, pork belly strips, bean sprouts, and sometimes bracken fern (고사리) are mixed into the batter before frying in a generous amount of oil. The result is a round, thick pancake with a deeply golden, crispy outer crust and a soft, dense interior. The kimchi adds tangy heat, the pork adds richness, and the vegetables provide freshness. Bindaetteok is dipped in a simple soy sauce with a splash of vinegar and a sprinkle of green onion (양념간장). Bindaetteok is a staple of traditional Korean markets (시장), particularly Gwangjang Market in Seoul — one of Korea's oldest and most famous markets, where rows of women fry bindaetteok to order all day long. The sizzle of the pancakes and the smoke rising from the griddles is one of the defining sensory experiences of Gwangjang Market.