--- airs weeknights at 7pm on SBS Food (Ch.33). All episodes are available anytime on . --- It doesn't happen often, but we've recently had occasion to respectfully disagree with Adam Liaw.
"I have a bone to pick with the English language," he says on . "Everything's a pancake... When it comes to Asian food, it's, oh, that's a Vietnamese pancake, oh, that's a Korean pancake, that's a Japanese pancake. And there's completely different foods, but everything's just a pancake if it's flat." Well... actually Adam, that sounds about right. It's called a savoury pancake because that's shorthand for flat, easy, quick and breakfast-for-dinner. Hence why most cultures have some form of savoury pancake on high rotation (they can call it whatever they like, we know what it is). If it starts with a batter and finishes flat, it can wear the savoury pancake mantle with pride. Everything in between is fair game.
Of course, Adam gets it, really. "I am joking about it because sometimes it is easier just to explain something to someone who doesn't know what bánh xèo means or what jeon means, just to say,well, it's a savoury pancake," he explains. "Then you know what it is. It is communicative and that's what language should be."
That's what food should be too, right? Enter: the savoury pancake.
How is this not a pancake?
Brittany is justifiably famous for its delicious savoury crêpes, garnished with cheese, charcuterie, seafood and more. Credit: Adam Liaw
Don’t skimp on the condiments, they’re what make okonomiyaki the deliciously messy meal it is. Credit: Justine's Flavours of Fuji
The word blini comes from the Russian for pancake... ahem, just sayin'...
Jian bing come with a little textural surprise – crispy wonton wrappers are crushed and folded inside. Credit: Kitti Gould
Frico is a bit like a cheesy potato tortilla, but without any eggs. Credit: Paola Bacchia
Dosa is originally a breakfast dish, but we'll forgive you for wanting to eat it all day long. Credit: Reversing Diabetes
Meet the Indian savoury pancake that will quickly have you in its thrall, . This one is made from chickpea flour (besan) with added vegetables like zucchini, chilli and spinach. You can actually add any finely chopped or grated vegetables you like, which makes besan ka puda as versatile as it is tasty. Roti ('bread' in several languages, including Malay) is Indian by origin, but almost universal in Asian kitchens Credit: Adam and Poh's Malaysia in Australia
Stack your savoury crêpes with béchamel sauce and your filling for an impressive brunch dish. Credit: Paola Bacchia
Crack an egg into the centre of your veggie pancake for extra protein and flavour. Credit: Kitti Gould
"Growing up in a family with four kids and hard-working parents... there wasn’t always heaps of time to spend cooking," says Joachim. No doubt this easy-breezy savoury pancake would have been on high rotation for dinner. Credit: Adam Liaw
