Pancakes (African Style)
African Pancakes — a comforting, rich, tender and tasty pancakes that are a cross between crepe and American pancakes. A great make ahead breakfast topped with either butter, syrup or cinnamon sugar!
Not a Week goes by, in my household ,without making these tender pancakes – they are my son’s favorite breakfast. Who am I kidding, they are mine too!!!- for several reasons; Childhood memories, comfort rich taste and of course, a great make ahead breakfast – Now, tell me you like that!
I started making these pancakes , when I was about 10 years old , with no precise measurements . It always had a different taste each time because in my culture , all you need to know in order to cook are the ingredients . So armed with flour, eggs, milk and oil. I embarked on my pancake venture making pancakes with pride and dedication . At the time , I love it and I knew my pancakes were good.
However, whenever I had an oporturnity to sample pancakes sold at my neighborhood patisserie , It always was spot on- tender and tasty. One day ,I was bold enough to politely ask them for their recipe .The lady making the pancakes looked at me as if something was wrong with me, without saying a word. I learned that great tasting pancakes are , indeed, best left to bakeries and restaurants .
Fast forward to now, after making gazillion pancakes . I now have an amazing recipe , that I use most of the time , with some lessons learn.Whisking the eggs separately and letting the batter rest for at least an hour or more , relaxes the gluten found in flour and makes for some really light and tender pancakes .Also nutmeg and melted butter adds flavor to pancakes.
These tender pancakes are a cross between crepe and American pancakes – a little thicker than crepes but not as thick as American pancakes . They are comparable to South African or Swedish pancakes , I call them African pancakes because to be honest , there is no name for it , other than pancakes . This is the pancake I know from Cameroon , West Africa, where I grew up, with slight variations. I can’t seem to get anything like this in restaurants or maybe it is just comfort food to me , one that has to be homemade.
Deck it up however you like, butter, syrup, cinnamon sugar . My preference fresh fruit on the side and a cup of tea.
Enjoy!!!
Notes;
For a lighter pancakes use 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup water instead of 1 1/2 cup milk
Watch How to Make It
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African Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2- 2/3 cup sugar
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
- 1/4- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup oil optional
Instructions
- Sift together flour, sugar,nutmeg and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk together with a mixer or by hand . Mix in flour mixture until everything has been incoporated .Finally stir in melted butter.
- Let the batter rest for about an hour or more in the refrigerator or overnight.
- Heat a skillet or a non stick frying pan then lightly coat the hot pan with vegetable oil, cooking spray, or clarified butter.Then pour about a 1/2 cup of batter depending on your fry pan or skillet. Tilt pan so the batter spreads across the bottom of the pan. Cook the pancake for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown.
- Lift with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, powder sugar or syrup
Tips & Notes:
- You have to oil the pan for the first pancake, however, you do not have to do the same for the rest.
- For a lighter pancakes use 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup water instead of 1 1/2 cup milk
Nutrition Information:
