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Kanom Krok (Thai Coconut Pancakes)

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Credit: Jenny Huang

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When I was 10 years old, my first job was selling kanom krok, which are little half-moon coconut pancakes that are crispy on the outside with a soft and smooth coconut cream topping, and since Thai people love a little savory with their sweet, we often sprinkle on some kernels of sweet corn or finely chopped scallions to add a pop of flavor and color. Popular all over Thailand, I would wake up very early to make the rice flour batter, then cook them outside and sell them to people heading to work — all before I left for school at 7 a.m. I still remember that feeling of counting the little stack of money in my hand and being so excited.

In our family, kanom krok is a tradition that is passed down from mother to daughter. My grandma taught my mom, and my mom taught me. Even before we were allowed to use the stove, my sisters and I would play in the dirt and pretend we were making little mud pie versions of kanom krok. When Chrissy and Tina were little, I taught them how to make the pancakes so they were just the right texture. They were really skilled at it, too! It was the perfect food for us to cook and eat together. When I was working on this book, Luna got to make her first kanom krok, ladling the batter in the hot pan and watching the edges bubble. She was a natural, so it must be in our genes.

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Kanom Krok (Thai Coconut Pancakes)

Yield Makes 50 pancakes

• alcohol-free
• egg-free
• kidney-friendly
• peanut-free
• pork-free
• pescatarian
• gluten-free
• tree-nut-free
• red-meat-free
• dairy-free
• fish-free
• vegetarian
• shellfish-free
• vegan
• soy-free
• wheat-free

Per serving, based on 8 servings. (% daily value)

• Calories 218
• Fat 11.1 g (17.0%)
• Saturated 9.4 g (47.2%)
• Carbs 28.7 g (9.6%)
• Fiber 1.6 g (6.6%)
• Sugars 7.3 g
• Protein 2.7 g (5.5%)
• Sodium 204.6 mg (8.5%)

Ingredients

For the batter:

• 1 cup

  rice flour

• 1/4 cup

  cooked jasmine rice

• 1/4 cup

  full-fat coconut milk

• 1/4 cup

  unsweetened shredded coconut

• 3 tablespoons

  light brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon

  kosher salt

For the topping:

• 1 cup

  full-fat coconut milk

• 1 tablespoon

  tapioca starch or cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons

  granulated sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon

  kosher salt

To finish:

• Melted coconut oil, for cooking, or vegetable oil

• 8

  scallions, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup

  canned corn kernals, drained

Instructions

Make the batter:

1. In a blender, combine 2 cups warm water, the rice flour, cooked rice, coconut milk, shredded coconut, brown sugar, and salt and blend until smooth. Set the blender jar aside (you can use it to pour the batter later).

Make the topping:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, tapioca starch, granulated sugar, and salt until dissolved and no lumps remain.

Kanom Krok Pan:

1. Place a kanom krok pan (see note below) over medium heat and let it heat up for a few minutes (the pan is ready when a drop of water sizzles immediately). Set a wire rack for the cooked pancakes on your work surface. Have the bowl of topping nearby. Brush the cups of the pan generously with oil. Use a spatula to give the batter a good stir, then fill each cup about two-thirds full with batter. After the batter has cooked for about 1 minute, give the bowl of topping a good stir and spoon enough topping into the center of each pancake to completely fill the cup. Sprinkle each pancake with a few scallions and corn kernels.

2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and loosely cover the pan with a lid (any large lid will do) or tent with foil. Cook, covered, until the edges of the pancakes are golden brown and the tops are no longer watery, about 6 minutes (since the pan is nonstick, use a small spoon to check the bottom of the pancakes to see if they’re browned). Using a small spoon or butter knife, gently lift the pancakes from the pan and place on the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining batter.

3. Serve the kanom krok warm.

Muffin Pan: If you’re not able to find a special pan for kanom krok, you can use an oven and a muffin pan to get pretty close to the real deal. Here’s how:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a muffin pan in the oven and heat for 5 minutes.

2. Carefully remove the muffin pan from the oven and add a few drops of oil to each cup, using a heatproof brush or paper towel to evenly coat the cups. Place the pan back in the oven to heat the oil, 2 minutes.

3. Remove the pan from the oven and fill each cup about 3/4 inch deep with batter; you should hear it sizzle. Gently tilt the pan so the batter spreads evenly.

4. Bake until the batter has formed a skin, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully spoon a generous tablespoon of the topping into the center of the mostly cooked batter, filling each cup another 3/4 inch or so. Sprinkle each with corn and scallions.

5. Return the pan to the oven and cook until filling is firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Use a butter knife to carefully loosen the kanom krok from the surface of the pan tray. Repeat with the remaining batter.

6. Serve the kanom krok warm.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: Both the batter and topping can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a day. If the batter has thickened too much, add water until it’s thin enough to pour easily.

Equipment Variation: To make kanom krok, you need a special pan/griddle, which has several circular cups to cook the batter. I’ve had my cast-iron kanom krok griddle forever, but you can find them very easily online or at most Thai supermarkets. You can also use a pan designed for Dutch aebleskiver or Japanese takoyaki, or an electric cake pop maker, though the capacity of the cups may vary slightly

Reprinted from The Pepper Thai Cookbook. Copyright © 2021 by Vilailuck Teigen with Garrett Snyder. Photographs copyright © 2021 by Jenny Huang. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House.

Pepper Teigen

Contributor

The beloved mom of Chrissy Teigen, Vilailuck “Pepper” Teigen is the author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook, The Pepper Thai Cookbook: Family Recipes from Everyone’s Favorite Thai Mom. Originally from Thailand, Pepper moved to the U.S. as a young woman, where she longed for the flavors of home. She started cooking Thai-ish food often using American ingredient substitutions for Thai items she couldn't find in grocery stores. It was while she was working at her then-husband's bar in Washington that she earned the nickname Pepper, because the bar patrons always saw her snacking on fresh chiles. Now, Pepper lives in Southern California with her daughter, Chrissy, son-in-law, John, and her grandchildren, Luna and Miles. She is prominently featured on CravingsbyChrissyTeigen.com, as well as in both of Chrissy’s bestselling cookbooks where she shares her recipes, wit, and wisdom.

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