I’m a big fan of Asian food, but don’t always find Optavia fuelings friendly to hacking that way. The flavors just aren’t always compatible. When ‘hacking’, I like to dip into my Leans or Greens versus adding a ton of extra ingredients/condiments. Plus, I find that some days I’m just craving a bit of protein earlier in my day. Now I know a lot of people don’t count baking powder, egg whites, etc. when hacking, but it does add up, so I count them. In all transparency, I do not count salt, pepper, or cooking spray, but that’s my personal comfort level—and it doesn’t have to be yours. Do what feels right for you.

That said, this is my take on pajeon—a savory Korean pancake—one of my favorite lunchtime fuelings. Kimchi is considered a condiment; 1/4 cup equals one condiment, but I use 1/8 cup {or 1 oz}, which counts as only 1/2 a condiment and trust me, a little goes a long way. A big plus beyond the flavor it packs in there is that it has a ton of health benefits including it’s nutrient dense, contains probiotics, reduces inflammation, is purported to aid in weight loss, and supports heart health. I also add one ounce of shrimp from my daily Lean & Green. And 99% of the time, I’ll cook up the full seven ounces for the day, use the one ounce chopped up in this fueling, and then just reheat the other six ounces for dinner. 

This pancake is dense, full of flavor, and very satisfying. 

Ingredients:

• Roasted Garlic Smashed Potato Fueling
• 1 oz Kimchi, chopped
• 1 oz Grilled Shrimp, chopped
• 1 tsp Scallion, chopped

Equals 1 Fueling, 1/2 Condiment*, 1 oz of Leanest

*I think the kimchi makes a huge difference in the flavor, but if you absolutely don’t like, want, or have kimchi, feel free to leave it out. Just remove the 1/2 condiment.

Instructions:

1. Add 2 oz of water to one smashed potato packet, mix well, and let sit
2. Grill shrimp in a pan, measure out one ounce and chop well
3. Measure out one ounce of kimchi and chop well
4. Chop one tsp of green onion
5. Mix the smashed potatoes with the shrimp, kimchi, and green onion
6. Place mixture in sprayed non-stick pan and let cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes and then carefully flip and cook on the other side for an additional 2-3 minutes. Pancake should be browned on both sides and cooked through.
7. You can top with a sprinkling of green onions, but it’s not necessary.

Hope you love this as much as I do and if you’ve never tried kimchi, this is a great recipe to start with. On the flip side, f you love kimchi and have been looking for ways to incorporate it into your 5&1 day, give this a shot.

Enjoy!