Pancakes, Nigella's Way

How many pancake recipes can a person have in her breakfast repertoire?  As many as she wants!

Usually I make buttermilk pancakes with a classic Betty Crocker recipe (my version of Betty Crocker's cookbook is from 1987 with "Betty" wearing a fluffy white bow tie on her blouse.)  But without any buttermilk in the fridge and an urge for pancakes, I turned to Nigella to infuse some Domestic Goddess-ness into this simple morning treat.

I used Nigella's recipe for American Breakfast Pancakes.  My favorite discovery from this recipe is her suggestion to "put all the ingredients into a blender and blitz."   Now when I make pancakes I put the egg in the blender first and run it for a few seconds, then I add the wet ingredients to the beaten egg and mix.  Then I add the dry ingredients which I have already mixed with a fork, and blend everything together for the shortest time needed until the dry ingredients are moistened.

I now do that with almost any pancake recipe I use, including the Betty Crocker standby.  The blender pitcher is great for pouring the batter onto the griddle.  It also keeps the amount of dirty dishes first thing in the morning to a minimum!

Nigella's pancakes are fairly thick and "spongy" as she writes in the introduction to the recipe.  My own preference is for pancakes that are a bit thinner.  Also, I think that buttermilk can't be beat, but I would make Nigella's recipe again for the variety.  One can't have too many pancake recipes, after all! 

Do you have a favorite pancake recipe or story to share?  The best pancake photo I've ever seen is Nic's over at bakingsheet.  It makes me want to go cook a batch right now, in fact!

American Breakfast Pancakes
How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking
By Nigella Lawson

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 1/3 cups milk
butter for frying

Nigella writes: "The easiest way to make these is to put all the ingredients into a blender and blitz.  But if you do mix up the batter by hand in a bowl, make a well in the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar, beat in the eggs, melted butter, and milk, and transfer to a pitcher: it's much easier to pour the batter into the pan that to spoon it.  I like to leave the batter for 20 minutes before using it; you may then want to add more milk to the mixture if you're frying in the blini pan, so that it runs right to the edges.  When you cook the pancakes, all you need to remember is that when the upper side of the pancake is blistering and bubbling it's time to cook the second side, and this needs only about 1 minute, if that.  1 get 11 blini-sized pancakes out of this, maybe 16 silver-dollar sized ones on the griddle."

Comments

[Mark Hasty]

I'm still searching for that one Ultimate Pancake, better than which nothing can be conceived. As far as I'm concerned the main function of a pancake is to serve as a sponge for the butter and maple syrup. It should be light and tender, but I don't like mine too fluffy. These look pretty good, but in my weakest moments I have to admit that Perkins makes a cake that's pretty close to my ideal . . . I'll still try these, though. Thanks!

[Amy Deik]

I too use Betty's Buttermilk-variety pancakes.
I really like banana ones, so will mash up a banana with a touch of nutmeg in them.

Will have to try the blender method, as that sounds so much less messy, and as you said, easy to pour.

[Paige]

Mark, let me know what you think of this pancake recipe as you continue on your quest for the U.P. (Ultimate Pancake).

Amy, way to go incorporating fruit into your pancakes!

[HotsieTotsie]

Nigella has the best recipe for pancakes EVER! My first one didn't even come out bad. I did just as she said and mixed all the ingredients in a blender. I then poured into a bowl and used a 1 cup measuring cup to pour it on to a hot and buttered cast iron pan. The next time I just poured from the blender. Each time I made these I got raves!!!!!!!!! What I loved most about this is the pancakes turn out FAB and no need to be so meticulous with anything!

[frog]

hi
I am looking for a pancake griddle just like the one shown in your picture above. Can you pls tell me where to buy it?
Thanks