SALTED CARAMEL PANCAKES

HOTTEOK

Hotteok, sweet pancakes filled with a brown sugar syrup and nuts, are beloved by young and old alike. These decadent treats were my sister Sonya’s choice dessert when we were kids. In each bite, you crunch through a crispy golden crust, then through a chewy dough and finally into a gooey centre. I’ve jazzed up the classic recipe by substituting the brown sugar with muscovado sugar, which is richer and ‘oozier’ when melted, and mixing it with a touch of salt. Feel free to make your own version as well – I’ve seen these pancakes filled with everything from walnuts and honey to mixed seeds. And they’re even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and/or whipped cream on top.

Ingredients

MAKES ABOUT TEN 10 CM (4 IN) PANCAKE

Dough:

  • 360 ml (12 fl oz) whole milk
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 pack (7 g/1⁄4 oz) instant yeast
  • 225 g (8 oz) bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 150 g (51⁄2 oz) sweet rice flour
  • 11⁄2 tbsp cornflour
  • 1⁄2 tsp sea salt

 

Filling:

  • 125 g (41⁄2 oz) muscovado sugar
  • 75 g (23⁄4 oz) peanuts, roughly chopped
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 3⁄4 tsp sea salt
  • Vegetable oil, for frying

 

Method

FOR THE DOUGH:

  1. In a very small saucepan, heat the milk to about 41°C/105°F. Remove from the heat, add the sugar and yeast and whisk until they have dissolved. Leave to stand in a warm place for 3–5 minutes, or until bubbling, to activate the yeast.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, rice flour, cornflour and salt. Slowly stir in the warm milk mixture until a sticky dough forms. Shape the dough into a ball in the base of the bowl and cover the bowl with a clean damp tea towel.
  3. Leave the dough to rise in a warm place for 11⁄2–2 hours until doubled in size. Knock it back and let it rise for 11⁄2 hours until doubled in size again.

 

FOR THE FILLING:

  1. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the muscovado sugar, peanuts, cinnamon and salt.
  2. After the dough has risen a second time, dust a clean work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Dust the top of the dough with some more flour and knead it a few times. Shape the dough into a fat, long log.
  3. Cut the dough into ten equal pieces, shape each piece into a ball, set on the floured work surface, and cover with a clean tea towel or clingfilm. Dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking, press a dough ball into a 10 cm (4 in) wide disc using your fingertips. Make sure the disc is uniformly thick so the finished pancake will be evenly filled with caramel.
  4. Put the disc in your hand and slightly cup it. Spoon 11⁄2–2 tablespoons of the filling into the centre of the disc. Seal the disc closed by wrapping the dough around the filling and pinching the edges together at the top. Once sealed, reshape gently to form a ball, set with the seam side down on the floured work surface and cover with a clean tea towel or clingfilm. Repeat with the remaining dough balls and filling.
  5. In a large non-stick frying pan, heat 3 tablespoons of oil over a medium-high heat. Put two or three dough balls seam-side down in the pan and immediately flatten them with a spatula to a width of about 10 cm (4 in). Reduce the heat to medium-low and fry the pancakes for 3–4 minutes until golden brown and crispy on the bottom. Flip them and cook for a further 3–4 minutes until slightly springy to the touch.
  6. Transfer the pancakes to a wire rack or kitchen paper-lined plate when done. Repeat with the remaining dough balls, wiping the pan clean and adding fresh oil for each batch. Leave the pancakes to cool slightly before serving. Beware, it’s easy to burn yourself in your haste to gobble these up, as the insides are hot and oozing.

 

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@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageNotting Hill nights done RIGHT 🍜✨

Slipped into a seriously under-the-radar spot—hidden *inside* a grocery store. Walking into @robinsramen, the London popup from head chef @robinkosuge, is an experience in itself. Heavy velvet curtains drawn, shelves disguised… step through and suddenly it’s all low-lit, intimate, and quietly buzzing. A little surreal, a lot special.

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Then came the feast—
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And THEN… the ramen stole the show!🍜
⭐ Ultra luxe bowl with sweet Orkney scallops + a deeply comforting, slow-developed chicken broth—clean yet indulgent, layered with flavor.
⭐ Chicken charshu ramen with wontons—comforting, aromatic, with melt-in-your-mouth chicken and delicate parcels throughout.

Every bowl felt thoughtfully balanced—light but rich with complexity, full of depth without being heavy, packed with little details to savor in every bite.

Pro tip: maybe don’t sit too close to the curtain openings unless you’re into cheeky cold bum and back by the end of the meal. 

Finished with Okinawa black sugar ice cream—caramel-y, smoky sweetness, the perfect soft landing.

A genuinely standout meal—creative, comforting, and quietly cool. Go now before the secret’s fully out 👀

#LondonEats #NottingHill #HiddenGemLondon #RamenObsessed #FoodieFinds LondonFoodScene NoodleHeaven EatLondon UnderTheRadar WorthTheTrip1 day ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imagePeru has been on my list for a while, and thanks to the @solylunafoundation charity auction courtesy of @relaischateaux , I embarked on an unforgettable trip.

@cazenove_and_loyd put together the perfect itinerary for this bucket list adventure. We started in Lima at @hotelblima in the bohemian Barranco district, a boutique hotel that could double as a living art gallery with its curated collection of Peruvian painters and sculptors. The sky-lit courtyard was a welcome bonus. 

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Peru weaves luxury, history and raw adventure- honored to have experienced it and to share it with @forbestravelguide . 🇵🇪

Full story at the link in bio.

#forbestravel #relaischateaux #belmond1 week ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageHonored to be part of @Bloomberg’s Women Who Lead: Shaping the Future of Food panel in London for International Women’s Day.

A meaningful conversation on the future of food and the role women play in shaping, leading, and redefining the industry every day.  And, a bit of a full circle moment coming back to the Bberg offices as a speaker....deja vu to my days working on Wall Street. 

Grateful to Ruth David for leading such an inspiring discussion, Kate Krader @kkrader for her vision and curation, and so honored to share the stage with my dear friend and powerhouse @asmakhanlondon and the amazing @yaroslavamalkova.

A powerful group of women shaping the future of food. 💙

Thank you @bloomberg for having me.
The last image is a screen grab from 2011 when I was the second most viewed person on Bberg.  Hysterical! 

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@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageJust a little more from the final chapter of my South American adventure—Argentina. 🇦🇷

I wrapped the trip in the dazzling, delicious swirl that is Buenos Aires, a city I’ve loved for years and happily return to whenever I can. It has that irresistible European elegance—one minute you feel like you’re strolling through the south of France, the next like you’ve wandered onto a sunny piazza in Italy. Add world-class wine, legendary beef, and a dining scene buzzing with energy, and you’ve got a city that knows exactly how to live well.

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Every cut was juicy, deeply flavorful, and impossibly tender. And the charcuterie? Absolutely brilliant. The kind that makes you pause mid-bite and appreciate the craft, patience, and passion behind it. @juanfrantula 

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