
Thick, fluffy street pancake folded over a filling of butter, sugar, roasted peanuts, and corn — Malaysia's beloved snack.
Apam balik (literally 'turnover cake') is one of Malaysia's most nostalgic street foods, made fresh to order at market stalls. A thick, slightly crispy-edged batter is poured onto a round cast iron pan, then topped with a generous filling of butter, sugar, roasted peanuts, and creamed corn before being folded in half. The outside is crispy; the inside is soft and sweet. It's addictive beyond reason.
Sirve 4
Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add water and mix until smooth. Rest for 30 minutes until bubbly. Stir in baking soda just before cooking.
Heat a non-stick pan or cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Pour in batter to cover the base evenly. Cover with a lid and cook for 4–5 minutes until the surface is set and edges are golden.
While the top is still slightly moist, dot with butter, sprinkle sugar, scatter peanuts, and spoon creamed corn over half the pancake.
Fold the unfilled half over the filled half, press gently, and cook 30 seconds more. Slide out and cut into pieces.
Low-medium heat is essential — too hot browns the outside before the inside cooks.
Cover the pan to create steam and cook the top without flipping.
Add more butter than you think you need.
Taste and adjust salt at the very end — flavors concentrate as liquids reduce, and a final pinch of flaky salt sharpens the whole dish.
Fill with kaya (coconut jam) and butter for a simple version
Add grated cheese for a savory-sweet combo
Use pandan extract in the batter for a green version
Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.
Best eaten immediately. The pancake softens as it cools.
Apam balik is believed to be of Chinese-Malaysian origin, with roots in Min Nan Chinese cooking techniques. It became one of Malaysia's most iconic street snacks through the centuries of Chinese settlement in the country.
The yeast needs to fully activate (bubbly batter) and baking soda is added last. Make sure both are fresh.
Yes — the classic version is just peanuts, butter, and sugar. Corn was added as a local variation and is now standard.
Yes — most of the components can be prepared up to a day in advance and refrigerated separately. Reheat gently and assemble just before serving so textures stay distinct.
Stay close to the role each ingredient plays: swap aromatics for similar ones (shallot for onion, lime for lemon), and keep the fat-acid-salt balance intact. Spice blends can usually be approximated with what's in the cupboard.
Por porción · 4 porciones totales
Pregúntele a nuestro asistente de cocina con IA cualquier cosa sobre esta receta: sustituciones, técnicas, escalado.
Chatea con AI Chef →Únete a la conversación
Inicia sesión para dejar un comentario y guardar tus recetas favoritas