April 24, 2020

Quarantined Cooking: Vegetable Pancakes

Any vegetables will work for these savory pancakes

During this time of uncertainty with no end in sight, we’re going to cook with all the ingredients we have. The normal, the random, and those forgotten impulse buys we made a month ago. This is quarantined cooking.

Pancakes are great on their own for breakfast, but they’re also secret weapons in the kitchen for using up any vegetables left in your refrigerator. These savory pancakes mix up the repetitive ways of cooking vegetables and are a great side dish for any meal. Use whatever vegetables you want; this recipe is just a guide. Make them spicy by adding red pepper flakes, make them herbaceous using a variety of fresh herbs and serve with chicken, or brighten them up with dill and mint and serve alongside tzatziki sauce and lemon wedges. These pancakes have no limits. ––Justin Burke

Vegetable Pancakes

Ingredients
1 batch of pancake batter (boxed or home recipe)
1 zucchini
4 carrots, peeled
3 radishes
1 cup kale, chopped
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped with stems

Directions

Using a box grater or food processor with the large hole side or blade, grate zucchini, carrots, and radishes. In a large mixing bowl, add shredded vegetables to kale, onions, garlic, and cilantro. Toss to combine.
In a separate mixing bowl, prepare your favorite homemade or store-bought pancake mix, using a ¼ cup less liquid than called for. Fold the vegetables into the prepared pancake batter.
Using a skillet over medium-high heat, coat the pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Using a ⅓ measuring cup, scoop the batter onto the skillet making sure not to overcrowd, about two pancakes at a time. Cook for three to four minutes until the outer edges have set and a few bubbles appear. Flip and cook for an additional two minutes, or until the pancake has puffed up and set, then remove from heat.
Sprinkle pancakes with salt and allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve with sour cream, tzatziki, hot sauce, or chow-chow.