With the zing of cured winter kimchi still tingling their tastebuds, the Princess and the rebels made their way to a village on a high promontory where waves crashed far below and villagers traversed a hand-cut path down the cliff to harvest bivalves and crustaceans off the rocks. Condensation from the seafood stock which boiled continuously in the villagers’ outdoor kitchens rose up and perfumed the salted sea breezes. The Princess stood still in the dawn air, caught by the stark beauty of a purple sunrise over a glassy sea.
A few of the rebel party had fallen ill from their time in the mountains, and the rebel leader decided they would stay in the village for a week until everyone had recovered.
“Your father’s troops have not caught up to us yet,” he told the Princess. “Therefore we have some time.” The others sighed with relief. It had been almost three months of non-stop travel, and they were content to set their belongings down and stay still for a few days. The villagers set up beds in different cottages for them, the Princess lodging with an elderly retired fisherman and his wife, one of the village’s best cooks. None of the villagers knew the Princess for who she really was – not with her hair long and free-flowing and her face tan from all their days riding out in the sun. But the older lady took special care with her, using respect terms even though the Princess insisted the woman not do so.
One day, after a meal of fresh oysters, crawfish, and the famous kimchi pajeon for which the village was known, the Princess sat by the cliff and watched the smooth southern waves roll in. She felt, in that moment, a deep upwelling of emotion – a sense of longing and love so deep for her country and the natural beauty around her that she pulled her arms into her body and shivered. A shawl came down around her shoulders.
“Here,” said the rebel leader.
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening.
“What’s wrong?” he said, frowning as he sat down next to her. “Is the older couple not treating you right?”
She shook her head. As they looked out to sea together, the young man seemed to catch some of the Princess’s feeling.
“I hope you don’t forget all this,” he said. “When you return to the palace.”
“I don’t think I want to return to the palace,” said the Princess slowly.
The rebel leader looked back out to sea, and together they watched the clouds descend.
Read more of the Princess & Rebel Saga:
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 1: Pajeon in the Cave
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 2: Mandoo at the Village
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 3: Mandooguk in the Woods
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 4: Kalbi Tang in the Mountains
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 5: Deep Fried Beef Tendon in the South
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 6: Kimchi on the Coast
- The Princess & the Rebel Part 8: Escape from the South with Haemul Pajeon
- ½ c kimchi (for AIP use clear/non-spicy kimchi, this one is close or you can make your own)
- ⅔ c cassava flour
- ½ medium-sized onion, chopped
- 3 scallions, sliced lengthwise in 2-inch segments
- 2 tb minced garlic
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1-2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
- ¾ c cold water
- 1 tb apple cider vinegar
- For cooking:
- Several tbs coconut or avocado oil
- Heat up a skillet or good flat-bottomed nonstick or cast iron pan on medium heat.
- Mix pancake ingredients together in order listed.
- Place ~1 tb of oil in pan.
- Spoon ~2 tb of batter onto hot pan and spread it out evenly. Repeat, leaving enough space in pan to flip pancakes.
- Cook for around 5 minutes per side/until brown.
- Serve with coconut aminos and chopped scallions
This recipe features in Phoenix Helix’s Paleo AIP Recipe Roundtable.
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