Quzhou Roast Pancake

Quzhou Roast Pancake

　　Quzhou Roast Pancake is a specialty snack from Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. This local delicacy has a long history in the area, though its exact origins are difficult to trace. The pancake can also be called a baked flatbread, but since it is cooked by sticking it to the wall of a charcoal oven until done, "roast pancake" is a more fitting name. This delicious and affordable street food, found only in the alleys and corners of Quzhou, is also made with great precision during preparation.

　　Roast pancakes are sold everywhere in Quzhou. They are similar in size to Shanghai’s popular pork-filled mooncakes but flatter in shape. Baked to perfection, they emit an enticing aroma that can whet your appetite from afar. The crust is very thin, likely made of wheat flour. The filling in the middle consists of pork, scallions, and chili peppers. A special type of oven is used in their making—similar to the one used for Jinhua crisp pancakes. From the outside, it looks like a large cylinder about one meter in diameter and height. Inside, however, it resembles a hemispherical shape. The opening is only about one foot in diameter, which helps create convection inside the oven and preserves the aroma well. When asked, the pancake makers often say this design allows them to fit as many small pancakes as possible. The chefs place the wrapped mini pancakes into the opening, pressing them onto the inner hemispherical surface. After a short while baking, the little pancakes start sizzling and oozing oil, while the fragrance wafts out through the narrow opening, making everyone’s mouth water. As the moisture gradually evaporates, the pancakes can no longer stick to the inner surface of the oven—this is when they are done. It’s truly an ingenious design!

　　How to Make Quzhou Roast Pancakes:

　　They are made with white flour, chopped scallions, and pork as the main ingredients. Customers can also request additions such as dried mustard greens or pickled vegetables. The white dough is wrapped around the pork and scallions, then the seam is sealed. The dough ball is flattened by hand to a thickness of about 3–4 millimeters before being stuck onto the wall of a specially designed charcoal oven. The oven’s opening is only about one foot in diameter, which helps create convection inside and preserve the aroma. When asked, the pancake makers often say this design allows them to fit as many small pancakes as possible. After a short while baking, the little pancakes start sizzling and oozing oil, while the fragrance wafts out through the narrow opening. At this point, they can be lifted out one by one with tongs and served to customers.

　　Every visitor to Quzhou who tries the roast pancake is amazed by its taste. Its exceptional flavor attracts many tourists from other regions, further boosting the reputation of Quzhou Roast Pancakes.