Ingredients

  • 1 pound sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup packed kimchi (7 ounces), very thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh serrano chiles (including seeds; amount depends on heat of kimchi)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced scallions (from about 2 bunches)
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • About 1/2 cup corn oil or lard
  • Accompaniment:
  • Equipment: an adjustable-blade slicer

Method

  • Peel sweet potatoes and julienne using slicer (about 6 cups).
  • Stir potato together with remaining ingredients except oil. Let mixture stand at room temperature until wilted and moist, about 5 minutes, then stir again.
  • Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Filling a 1/3-cup measure halfway full with potato mixture for each pancake and working in batches of 5 or 6, tap out into oil, gently flattening pancakes with a spatula to about 1/4 inch thick. Cook until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Flip, adding a little more oil if necessary, and cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add oil to skillet between batches as needed. Serve warm, with dipping sauce.