Lebanese Inspired Pancakes
 
Preparation time
Cooking time
Total time
 
Trust me these pancakes are very more-ish and well worth the effort of finding the ingredients. Serve with ice cream for pure indulgence. Use a coffee grinder to grind some star anise, use 4 to ensure a good ground and reserve the rest or smash the star anise in a pestle and mortar. Maple syrup will work well if you cannot find the ingredients for the syrup. You need a heavy bottomed pan, a spatula and a plate with tea towel nearby. A jam thermometer is very useful, but you can manage without. Yield very much depends on the size you make the pancakes.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Lebanese
Serves: 8 pancakes
Ingredients
Pancakes
  • 50 gr self-raising flour - wheat or gluten free
  • 25 gr fine cornmeal or semolina
  • 10 gr sugar
  • 20 gr butter softened
  • 1 egg
  • 100 gr milk (approx.)
  • 50 gr nuts (pine nuts, pecans or walnuts)
  • Pinch of salt
  • ½ tsp of cinnamon
  • ½ tsp or ground star anise
  • ½ tsp of turmeric.
Syrup
  • 200 gr sugar
  • 100 ml water
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 15 ml orange blossom water
  • 15 ml rose water
Instructions
Syrup
  1. In a saucepan, dissolve the sugar in the water. Avoid the temptation to stir at any point
  2. Add the orange flower water and rose water.
  3. Simmer the syrup for about 12 minutes. To test whether it is ready, either ensure it has reached the Jam setting on your jam thermometer (or 105C) or add a drop to cold water. If it sets it is ready. Set aside
Pancakes
  1. Mix the dry ingredients except the nuts together in a bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, egg and half the milk.
  3. If using pecans or walnuts, break into small pieces.
  4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Put into a jug for pouring onto the pan.
  5. Add more milk until the mixture is thick but flowing. Adjust after trying a test pancake.
  6. Heat the heavy bottomed pan until hot, smear with a little butter.
  7. Pour the mixture onto the pan until it spreads to about 10 cm. As it begins to set and bubbles appear sprinkle the nuts on top.
  8. Flip over and quickly cook the other side.
  9. Add little more milk if you have difficulty pouring it. Otherwise add 3 to four at a time and keep warm.
Recipe by Edinburgh Foody at http://www.edinburghfoody.com/2015/02/12/try-something-new-on-pancake-day/