Pancake roundup!

Happy Pancake Day!! Or Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras...whichever title you use I hope you've enjoyed your day!

I have a quick recipe below, but first a little pancake feast roundup for you!

strawberry cream pancakes with chia jam

my favourite super-cute buckwheat blini kebab!

stuffed savoury pancakes

lemon and poppy seed pancakes

PB and jam white spelt pancakes

carrot cake pancakes

I love pancakes, thought I have them all too rarely. That is the thin and crepe like kind with the crispy edges. I often have fat and fluffy American style breakfast pancakes but the traditional English pancakes all to often go overlooked. Not today...today I will revel in all their glory.

Such a simple pancake and today my pancake mix will be no different to previous years, though I have provided it again below for quick reference. Unfortunately I still have not mastered the art of a gluten free pancake of this kind, I have used spelt flour but for gluten free pancakes of other types take your pick from these oaty stacks in either sweet or savoury options and these almost-too-cute-to-eat buckwheat blinis... assemble your own blini buffet to make the perfect for playtime with the kids or as a pancake-turns-Valentines-dessert with your loved one! 

My pancake of choice for today's celebrations are my spelt pancakes, but this time using wholemeal flour all wrapped up with an apple date and cinnamon saucy compote ( also also had banana and maple syrup in one of the pancakes as you can see peeking out). I apologise for the slightly lacking photography...I had to use artificial spot lights which I always struggle with compared with natural light (horrible shadows), plus the fact that I had a telephone appointment scheduled so was pushed for time...oh well :-)

What is your favourite type of pancake...and most importantly your favourite topping?

 

Recipe: English spelt pancakes with apple compote

Makes 3 medium pancakes (serves one for a large portion!)

Ingredients- pancakes

½ cup wholemeal spelt flour (or white for a lighter pancake if that is important to you)

1 tsp ground flax or chia seed

1 tsp agave syrup

1 tsp baking powder

tiny pinch salt

2/3 cup soy milk (reduce to half if you prefer a thicker pancake)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbs melted coconut oil/vegetable oil

Ingredients- topping

1 large apple- cubed (peel first if preferred)

2-3 tbs date syrup, handful finely chopped dates, or 1 tbs date sugar (I used finely chopped dates)

½ tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup apple puree
1 tbs lemon juice
a little water to achieve desired consistency

Handful raisins or sultanas- optional

Method

For the topping, cup the apple it smallish 1cm sized cubes, place in a small sauce pan and mix with the date paste/sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Cook on a medium heat on the stove for approx 5 minutes, add the apple puree and water and then simmer for another 5 minutes whilst the pancakes cook until the apple softens and creates a saucy consistency.

For the pancakes, mix dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients. Mix well until you have a smooth batter with no lumps.

Meanwhile heat a medium sized frying pan with very light covering of oil (I used rapeseed oil lightly rubbed over the surface with kitchen roll). Once the pan is hot add a large spoonful of batter to the pan and move the pan in circular motions to spread the batter into a larger circle. Cook for approx. 2 minutes and then carefully flip to cook the reverse for approx. 1 minute until both sides are lightly brown. Run a little more oil over the surface of the pan and then repeat for two more pancakes. 

Serve hot with the apple compote or other toppings of your choice.

* for further guidance on making gluten free choices please see this post.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.

Stuffed pancake stack!

With Pancake Day just around the corner next Tuesday, I wanted to bring you a pancake recipe ahead of time. See, I am actually getting organised this year!!  (I also have an amazing Valentines themed post lined up for Saturday...so keep your eyes peeled!)

Most people usually think of sweet filled pancakes and I am no exception, however this time I wanted to put a twist on things and create a simple savoury recipe. The concept is based on a savoury version of these fruity oatmeal blinis and I remember thinking to myself at the time that they would work perfectly as a base for a savoury filling...so here we are.

To speed things up even more you could make the blinis ahead of time and freeze them if not using the same day. Simply defrost and reheat in the oven for a few minutes. (It tried this and it works well). The instructions below may seem lengthy but I promise you won't spend more than 10-15 mins tops from start to finish.

The filing is my current favourite dip/spread, which will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days but it's best served fresh when possible. I served it warm this time round...yum! You may remember the dip was first seen here adorning my Christmas trees! Add a few extra roasted veggies or salad leaves as per your preference to create a pretty plate. 

Just remember to stack ‘em high!

Recipe: Stuffed pancake stack

Serves 2 (8 blinis plus filling­)

Ingredients

Oatmeal blinis:

100g ground oats

¼ tsp bicarbonate soda

150ml soy milk (or other dairy free milk)

1tsp ground chia or flax

Approx. ½ tsp seasoning as desired

Approx. 50ml water to thin batter as needed

Green pea and bean dip:

1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
1/2 cup cooked white beans (canned or pre-cooked)
1 garlic clove- crushed
a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1 shallot (or 1/4 white onion)
1 tbs fresh herbs (I used parsley)
salt and pepper to taste

Handful of rocket or spinach

Sliced roasted or sun dried tomatoes

Sliced roasted or caramelised onions

Method

Prepare the onions and tomatoes as desired- I roasted mine for 5 minutes or so whilst I prepared the blinis.

To make the pea filling, add all ingredients to a blender and whizz together until desired texture is reached (I left mine a little chunky). To serve hot, you can either heat the beans and peas prior to blending or heat the blended product in the microwave for a couple of minutes (I did it that way as I also had a bit left over that I wanted to chill in the fridge without heating.)

Meanwhile, to prepare the blinis, blend together all ingredients (other than water) until very smooth. Add as much water as necessary to create a thick but easily pourable batter.

Spoon heaped tablespoons of the mixture onto a hot frying pan and fry for a minute or so on each side until golden.

Serve the blinis immediately layered up with the pea filling and onions, leaves and tomatoes. Make a big stack!

For further guidance on making gluten free choices please see this post.
For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.

Tortilla wraps - gluten free

These wraps are like savoury pancakes…but thick and robust enough to take a filling and they are gluten free to boot!

Fill them with whatever you fancy, here I have gone for a simple vegan yoghurt and bean salad, but how about this ‘untuna’ filling or my favourite lentil and peanut dip.  You could also fill them with a veggie chilli as long as it is not too liquidy (I am the master of making  mess with finger food...just warning ya!)

The chia seed is the star of the show in terms of binding the ingredients together and ensuring that these wraps do not fall apart. You could probably use ground flax as a substitution but my personal experience with chia and flax is that ground chia has a better ‘gumming’ action and I usually opt for it given the choice.

I left these wraps pretty plain but they would be the great base for some Italian, Mexican or Indian spices depending on your filling flavours.

Recipe: Gluten free tortilla wraps

Serves 2 (approx 6 wraps)

Ingredients

½ cup chickpea flour

½ cup buckwheat flour

3tbs starch (I used arrowroot)

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp garlic powder

Other seasonings as desired to taste (I kept my tortillas ‘plain’)

3tbs ground chia seed mixed with ¼ cup warm water

1 tbs coconut oil

1 cup warm water

Method

Mix dry ingredients together and then add wet ingredients and mix well to form a batter of ‘yoghurt’ consistency.

Lightly oil a frying pan and once hot add a dollop of batter spread thinly (quickly!) and fry the tortillas as you would a pancake. Cook them for 2-3 mins on one side then flip and finish with a minute on reverse.

Serve immediately, or if making in advance simply warm through in the oven or microwave before serving. These are best eaten within 24 hours. I have not tried freezing them but I imagine that would work, making sure they are separated with parchment.

For further guidance on making gluten free choices please see this post.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.