I love pancakes, especially the thin European pancakes. I use them like I would use a flatbread and put my salad on top of it for a quick lunch. I make pizza pancakes or fill them with leftovers; if I have a sweet tooth, I use my jams or fruits.
I use the same basic recipe since I started cooking, but somehow they pancakes turned out differently, and it startled me. How could that be? Sometimes I had a fluffy and light pancake, other times a heavy pancake -still eatable, but different! I didn’t change the ingredients, so there had to be a logical explanation. I made the flour responsible for the consistency of the pancakes, or the eggs -something had to get the blame.
I found an old, handwritten note from my Grandmother in a cookbook that she left me, turns out I was to blame, not the ingredients.
The Pancake Rule:
The ingredients have to be mixed in the right order!
MILK – FLOUR – EGG = light and delicious pancakes!!!
The flour can swell in the milk, the fat of the milk separates the yolk from the egg white.
EGG – FLOUR – MILK = tough and heavy dough!!!
The flour absorbs all the liquid, the yolk and egg white will not separate.
Life can be so simple!
Basic Recipe for European pancakes
- 400g flour
- 750 ml 2% milk
- 3 Egg
- A pinch of salt
- A Splash Mineral water (Carbonated Water)
- Butter for frying
- Sugar = optional -only for sweet pancakes
Combine the flour, the milk, the eggs and the pinch of salt with a mixer until smooth, then let the dough rest for about half an hour in the refrigerator.
Take the dough from the refrigerator, add a good splash of mineral water and stir the batter again.
Pour a little pancake batter into the hot pan -the pancakes should be much thinner that American pancakes. Tip the pan and spread the batter evenly, the edge should be crispy and uneven. Cook to desired darkness, then flip the pancake over. Fill and roll up, or serve flatbread style.
Please, don’t add butter or syrup is not added, that would destroy the taste!!!
Enjoy~!
Published March 2015 on my kitchen blog “Bringing worlds together in my kitchen”
As a carbaholic, I enjoy naked pancakes myself. Using them as bread substitute would involve too much effort!
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My grandma made “blintzes” and my Mom made “crepes” I adore thin pancakes and have made them into sandwiches before. Now, your suggestions are great!! xo
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Thanks
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Oh wow. I always remind my daughters something I once heard from a TV chef. Baking and pastry making has to be precise, unlike the regular cooking of food. This proves it.
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It is true. 🙂
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My mother mad pancakes for breakfast always on the weekends- brought back that memory Bridget.
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How about that – there is an order to adding ingredients. This is why I stay away from baking. It is way too scientific.
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I am not a great baker either. I love to improvise and baking doesn’t give you any “wiggle room.”
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Exactly
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I love pancakes💜 Thank you for the recipe !!
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The secret of pancakes is out! I had no idea there was an order. Tomorrow is pancake day here as Tornado Boy is staying over tonight. 🙂 Pancakes is our “thing.” (I thought you were taking a blogging break? I think it lasted about 4 hours. Ha ha.)
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I am taking a blogging break -as I said I would. Instead of writing new posts I will post some recipes and other “stuff” from my old kitchen blog instead for the next four weeks before I will delete it all.
Pancake day sounds good. 🙂
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Ah yes. I remember. Tornado Boy and I used your recipe this morning (plus blueberries). He said the pancakes were yummy and asked for more! 🙂
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Blueberry pancakes are divine. 🙂
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What an interesting coincidence! I rarely eat pancakes and on those occasions I do, it’s because Gilles made them.
For the past few days I’ve been thinking about blueberry pancakes and finally made a batch this morning. I just finished eating when I saw your post!
I agree about the butter and syrup, although I admit I like mine with yogurt. Yum!
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I don’t eat them anymore since they contain eggs and milk, but make them sometimes for my spoiled husband. 🙂
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I Love pancakes. My cousin used to make the most delicious dollar pancakes. With Maple Syrup. The small ones. Not sure where that name came from. Also enjoy crepes. Was wondering. Are crepes and pancakes considered the same thing? I always thought that crepes were thinner.
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Crepes are thinner, it’s the French version of a pancake. The basic recipe is pretty much the same, without the mineral water.
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