This is what I made on Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday as an alternative to sweet British pancakes with lemon & sugar…which are amazing btw! Here’s how you can make these for dinner and have the sweet ones for dessert 😉 These are also, omitting the Oatly for another plant milk/ yoghurt alternative, gluten free too!
You’ll need:
For the pancakes:
- 100g Gram (chickpea) flour.
- 30g Frozen spinach, thawed.
- 100ml Aquafaba.
- 2tbs Chia seeds.
- 1tsp Green barley powder.
- 1tbs of kalonji / nigella/ black fennel seeds
- 1tsp Garam marsala.
- 1tsp Chilli powder.
- 1tsp Cumin.
- Salt & pepper.
- Splash of non dairy milk (I used Oatly)
- 1 Portions worth of leftover curry, vegan in my case.
For the Raita:
- 2tbs Oatly fraîche/ soy yoghurt
- Splash of water (If using Oatly fraîche)
- Thumb size piece of cucumber.
- Handful of fresh mint.
- Sprinkle of salt
To Garnish:
- 6 Bhaji bites
- Handful of chopped coriander
- 5 lingonberry pickled onion rings, learn how to make them here
This recipe is a doddle to make, simply start by heating up your aquafaba on a low heat in a pan with the chia seeds. This should start the chia seeds coagulation process.
Whilst they begin to heat up, you can get your dry ingredients ready. Sieve the spices, green barley powder, gram flour and salt & pepper into a big mixing bowl. Once you can see the chia seeds have began to open and make a gel, take the mixture off the heat.
with a hand blender, pulse the spinach ever so slightly until it begins to break up. Combine with the aquafaba/chia mixture, then add the kalonji seeds. mix until you get a green, gloopy mixture. Now, all you have to do is simply mix with the dry mixture and add a splash of non-dairy milk accordingly until it becomes a thick batter.
Fry in an oiled pan, remembering to spread the mixture evenly. Keep an eye on the level of oil in the pan, between pancakes, you may have to add a bit more oil.
once they are all cooked, stack them on a plate for later.
I had a bit of batter leftover, but not enough to make another pancake. Instead of wasting it, I decided to make these bhaji bites. To the batter I added 1tbs of finely chopped spring onion, 1tsp turmeric and 1tsp paprika. mix and dollop a teaspoon worth into the pan, to which I added an inch of oil. They will slightly expand and bubble. Cook until crispy, but be vigilant as they can burn easily.
Once done, pop them onto some paper towel to drain and pop the leftover curry in a pan/ microwave to heat through.
Whilst you’re waiting for the curry to re-heat, it’s time to make the raita. Chop the mint & cucumber finely, adding to a bowl. Mix through the yoghurt/ fraîche. If you’re using the Oatly fraîche, you may need to add a splash of water to the bowl, as its quite a thick product. Season with salt & you’re done!
Time to assemble!
Layer each pancake with a big dollop of curry, then on the final layer, top with the raita & garnishes and finally crown with the bhaji bites.
It’s great paired with a light & refreshing beer. I made a shandy out of Five Points Ale & Cawston Press cucumber & mint soda and it worked perfectly!
Enjoy!
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