Savory Cabbage Pancakes (with Chickpea Flour)

These savory cabbage pancakes (made with chickpea flour) are a simple and unusual take on dinner. Add a side salad and you’re set!

Guys, it may sound weird but say it with me: cabbage pancakes. What started out as a quest for a vegan take on Japanese okonomiyaki led me to these super simple (and gluten-free!) savory pancakes. They’re flavored with garlic, ginger, scallions, and black pepper, and spicy mayo is the proverbial cherry on top.

The secret to these vegan ‘cakes without eggs or gluten is chickpea flour. This high-protein flour (i.e. ground-up chickpeas) creates a silky, custardy batter that makes for light and airy pancakes with a nutty, savory aroma. Moreover, chickpea flour works as a binder, effectively replacing eggs and lending a chewy texture to the pancakes.

These easy-to-make savory pancakes are a light and healthy dinner idea. Plus, you get your protein and vegetable fix all at once. Add a simple side salad and you’re set!

What’s In These Cabbage Pancakes

On the fresh ingredients side, you’ll need green cabbage, scallions, garlic, and ginger. From the pantry, you’ll need chickpea flour, arrowroot starch (or cornstarch), baking powder, and olive oil. To make spicy mayo, just stir some Sriracha (or any other hot sauce) into mayo; or use store-bought chipotle mayo.

Key Ingredients + Substitutions

• Cabbage: If you have a food processor, I highly recommend using the slicing attachment to prep your cabbage. You’ll save loads of time and energy, and end up with uniformly shredded cabbage. Alternatively, buy pre-chopped cabbage at the supermarket.
• Scallions: I like to finely chop the white parts and leave the green parts in longer pieces.
• Garlic + Ginger: Use fresh! The powdered versions won’t do here.
• Chickpea Flour: A high-protein gluten-free flour made from ground-up chickpeas. Look for it in the health foods aisle or the baking aisle. (I recommend Bob’s Red Mill.)
• Arrowroot Starch: absorbs extra moisture in the batter. (Again, look for Bob’s Red Mill.) Cornstarch may be used as a substitute.
• Baking Powder: makes these pancakes fluffy – don’t skip it.

How to Make Cabbage Pancakes

Find complete instructions with ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Prep the Cabbage

If you have a food processor, use the slicing attachment to finely shred the cabbage. If not, shred it as thinly as possible with a sharp knife. (Alternatively, buy pre-shredded cabbage at the supermarket.)

Step 2: Combine the Fresh Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, scallions, garlic, and ginger.

Step 3: Make the Batter

In a separate bowl, combine the chickpea flour, arrowroot (or cornstarch), baking powder, salt, lots of cracked black pepper, water, and a bit of olive oil. Whisk to incorporate; the resulting batter should roughly be the texture of heavy cream.

Step 4: Combine Everything

Add the batter to the cabbage mixture and fold to combine.

Step 5: Cook the Pancakes

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to evenly coat the bottom. When the oil is lightly shimmering, portion out the pancakes into circular-ish shapes in the skillet.

Important Cooking Tips

Wait for the pan to get hot enough before adding any batter – it should sizzle lightly when it hits the pan. Cook until the edges of the pancakes are dry and there are small bubbles on the surface, 3 to 4 minutes – then flip and brown the other side. Be patient, the pancakes will release from the pan when they’re ready; do not try to pry them from the pan and flip them too early, or they may fall apart. If you feel like they’re getting stuck, add more oil. If they’re browning too quickly, reduce the heat.

What to Serve with Savory Pancakes

Serve these ‘cakes right away, while still hot, with spicy mayo. We like to eat them with salad, like this charred corn salad, cucumber kimchi salad, or arugula avocado salad. Leftovers will be fine in the fridge for a few days, although the pancakes’ texture will toughen a bit.

More Vegetable Goodness…

• Purple Cabbage Slaw
• Raw Broccoli Salad
• Carrot Fritters
• Vegan Creamed Corn

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with @thenewbaguette on Instagram.