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    Home » Traditional holiday food » Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving)

    Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)

    Published 09/04/2014. Updated 09/16/2021

    Jump to Recipe

    Egg-battered and pan-fried Korean meatballs are a type of Korean jeon. It’s a holiday favorite that’s great any time of year!

    DSC 0212 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)
    What is wanjajeon?

    On traditional holidays such as Chuseok (mid-autumn festival) and Seollal (New Year’s Day), most Korean homes make several types of jeon (전) dishes (pan-fried battered food) for their holiday feast. Wanjajeon or wanja jeon (완자전) is among the popular choices. It’s also called gogijeon (고기전).

    Meatballs are called gogi wanja (고기완자) in Korean and used in many traditional dishes such as soups or hot pots. When they are egg-battered and pan-fried, they are called wanjajeon. To make jeon, the meatballs are gently pressed into mini patties.

    wanjajeon 1 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)

    As a child growing up in Korea, I loved these little egg-battered meatballs. We called them by their funny nickname – dong-geu-rang-ddeng (동그랑떙), meaning “a round thing”. I know it’s hard to pronounce, but it is one of those words that makes you smile when said or heard. They were a favorite for packing in the school lunch boxes. Meat was a luxury in Korea back then, so it was always a special treat to have a few of these meatballs with a meal.

    DSC2784 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)

    How to make pan-fried Korean meatballs

    For the meat, I prefer to use a mixture of ground beef and pork, but you can also use all beef or all pork.

    To achieve a smooth texture, take extra time to finely chop the vegetables and mix all the ingredients very well by hand. The meat patties can be prepared ahead of time and pan-fried on the day of serving.

    The meatballs are flattened, dredged in flour, and dipped in the egg wash before being pan-fried. 

    The meat mixture in this recipe can also be used to make types of stuffed jeon such as kkaennip jeon. You can also stuff other vegetables such as chili peppers, zucchinis, and mushrooms. 

    Enjoy it on your holiday table or simply as an appetizer or side dish with any meal.

    DSC 0217 e1483239391162 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)

    For more Korean cooking inspirations, follow  along on YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

    DSC 0212 500x500 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)

    Wanjajeon (Pan-fried egg battered meat balls)

    4.65 from 17 votes
    Print Recipe

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef or combination of beef and pork
    • 4 to 6 ounces tofu squeezed and crushed
    • 1/2 medium onion
    • 1/2 medium carrot
    • 2 scallions
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
    • salt about 1/2 teaspoon and pepper to taste
    • 3 eggs beaten well
    • 1/2 cup flour
    • vegetable or canola oil for pan-frying

    Instructions

    • Finely chop the vegetables.
      Wanjajeon 6 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)
    • Combine all the prepared ingredients, and mix very well by hand until everything is evenly blended, crushing any remaining big pieces of tofu. You can cook a little bit in the microwave (or in a pan) to see if it needs more salt.
      Wanjajeon 2 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)
    • Shape the mixture into 2 to 3-centimeter balls, and then gently press between your palms to flatten.
      Wanjajeon 3 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)
    • Dredge the patties in flour one at a time, coating well. Shake off excess flour.
      Wanjajeon 4 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)
    • Heat a non-stick pan over medium low heat. Coat the pan evenly with 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Dip each piece in the egg, and carefully place in the heated skillet. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, adding more oil, until the meat is cooked through. The meat is ready if it feels firm. Clean the pan, and repeat with the remaining pieces.
      Wanjajeon 5 - Wanjajeon (Pan-fried Meatballs in Egg Batter)
    Tried this recipe?Mention @koreanbapsang or tag #koreanbapsang!

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    Hi! I'm Hyosun, and I am a Korean-American mom of two wonderful grown-up children. Here, you will learn how to cook Korean dishes the way we Koreans traditionally eat at home. Read More...

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