The best recipes of pancakes for Pancake Day: from traditional to unusual ones

Maslenitsa is one of the most colorful and popular Russian folk festivals, which is celebrated during the week before Lent. This year it is celebrated from March 11 to 17.

Maslenitsa marks the farewell to winter and the meeting of spring. One of the main attributes of the holiday are pancakes. The popularity of this dish is not accidental – it symbolizes the sun and the renewal of nature. It is believed that the more pancakes the hostess will bake, the brighter and more varied the table on Pancake Day, the richer the whole year will be.

Recipe #1: classic pancakes

Recipes of pancakes for Pancake Day are numerous: from traditional to unusual with a piquant flavor. To begin with, we will tell you about the classic variant.

Ingredients:

• milk – 0,5 liters;
• eggs – 2 pcs;
• wheat flour – 1 cup;
• salt – a pinch;
• sugar – 1-2 tbsp;
• sunflower oil – 2 tablespoons.

Preparation of the dough:

1. Break the eggs in a deep bowl and beat them with a whisk or mixer.
2. Add milk, salt and sugar, mix well.
3. Gradually add the flour, continuing to stir the dough until homogeneous. The resulting mixture should be lump-free, similar to liquid sour cream.
4. Add sunflower oil to the dough and mix thoroughly.

Baking method:

Pancakes are best cooked on a frying pan, ideally on a pancake pan. It is suitable in size, allowing you to form the correct shape. The frying pan should be heated strongly, lightly grease with vegetable oil.

Scooping up the batter with a ladle, you need to pour it into the center of the pan, and then evenly distribute it over the entire surface, turning the pan at an incline in a circle. When the edges of the pancake are browned, you should carefully pick it up with a spatula and turn it over. Ready pancakes can be smeared with melted butter.

Recipe #2: pancakes with stuffing

Various fillings can be used to spice up traditional pancakes. You can experiment and combine unusual ingredients, creating your own unique flavors.

Known variants of fillings for delicious pancakes:

• cottage cheese. This is one of the most popular fillings for pancakes. Mix cottage cheese with sugar, vanilla and optionally add raisins;
• berries. Fresh strawberries, raspberries or blueberries serve as a great filling for pancakes. They add freshness and sweetness to the dish;
• jam or jam. This is a great alternative to fresh berries and fruits;

• chocolate. Melted chocolate or chocolate paste will be a good filling option for fans of this sweetness;
• condensed milk. It perfectly combines with classic pancakes;
• minced meat. In this case, when preparing the dough, you need to refuse sugar. Pancakes will turn out to be very hearty and will replace a full meal. Stuffing should be pre-fried with the addition of onions (it will add juiciness) and favorite spices.

For those who have decided to fast: according to the Orthodox canons during Pancake Week you can no longer eat meat.

How to cook

The filling should be of a homogeneous consistency to give the wrapped pancakes a proper, beautiful shape. If it is cottage cheese, it can be crushed with a fork or blender. The berries should be crushed with a spoon and a little sugar added to the mixture – the filling needs to stand for a while to release its juice.

The stuffing can be placed on the pancake both in the process of frying in a frying pan and after cooking. Place the chosen mixture on one half of the pancake and then wrap with a triangle, envelope, tube or other shape of your choice.

Recipe #3: Gluten-free and dairy-free pancakes

If you have gluten and lactose allergies, don’t be discouraged – there are plenty of alternative ingredients that will allow you to make suitable pancakes.

So, instead of regular wheat flour, you can use rice flour, corn flour, potato flour, coconut flour, oat flour. The method of cooking pancakes is the same as in the classic recipe.

If you are lactose intolerant, choose an alternative milk, such as coconut milk, rice milk, almond milk, soy milk.

These milk substitutes have their own flavor and texture characteristics that may affect the final result.

Ingredients:

• oat milk – 300 ml;
• eggs – 3 pcs;
• rice flour – 160 g;
• cornstarch – 40 g;
• sugar – 1 tablespoon;
• salt – a pinch;
• dough leavener – 1 tsp.

Preparing the dough:

1. Mix eggs, milk, flour and starch with a whisk or mixer.
2. Add salt, sugar and baking powder. Stir and let the dough stand.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat, grease with vegetable oil.
4. Dribble the desired amount of batter onto the skillet with a ladle, spread it on the surface.
5. When the edges of the pancake dry up and become detached from the surface, turn it over and fry for another minute.

Any filling described above is suitable for such pancakes.

Recipe #4: pancakes with unusual additives

Pancakes are an integral part of the celebration of Shrovetide. Instead of a traditional recipe, you can prepare this dish using unusual additives. Experiment!

Pancakes with spinach

These pancakes not only taste savory, but also have a bright green color. A great solution to surprise guests and housemates.

Ingredients:

• fresh spinach – 90 g;
• eggs – 2 pcs;
• milk – 0.5 liters;
• flour – 140 g;
• salt – a whisper;
• vegetable oil – 1 tbsp.

Preparation of the dough:

1. Chop spinach coarsely, pour 250 g of milk and chop with a blender until homogeneous.
2. Add eggs, flour and salt to the mixture, beat with a whisk.
3. Pour in the rest of the milk and mix again until smooth.
4. Bake the pancakes on a well heated griddle greased with vegetable oil.

Pancakes with cheese and herbs

Very hearty pancakes that can replace a full meal.

Ingredients:

• flour – 250 g;
• milk – 0.5 liters;
• eggs – 2 pcs;
• hard cheese – 150 g;
• fresh dill, cilantro or other herbs – 1 bundle;
• leavening agent – 1 tsp;
• salt – 1 pinch;
• sunflower oil – 2 tbsp.

Preparing the dough:

1. In a deep bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk.
2. Add salt and baking powder, mix thoroughly.
3. Grate the cheese finely, chop the herbs finely and add to the dough.
4. Add vegetable oil to the mixture, stir to combine.
5. Bake on a hot frying pan.
6. Serve with sour cream, garlic, cheese or other sauce.

Onion pancakes

They are great with fillings of meat, mushrooms or vegetables.

Ingredients:

• onions – 3 pcs;
• eggs – 3 pcs;
• milk – 250 ml;
• boiled water – 300 ml;
• rye flour – 250 g;
• wheat flour – 250 g;
• salt – 0.5 tsp.

Preparation of the dough:

1. In a deep bowl, beat the eggs with salt.
2. Chop the onion in a blender.
3. Add the onion, milk, sifted flour to the egg mixture and mix thoroughly.
4. Pour water into the batter and mix until smooth.
5. Bake the pancakes on a griddle until browned.
6. Serve with sour cream or garlic sauce.

Recipes from the chef

Chef Oleg Titov shared savory and unusual recipes for cooking pancakes.

Pancakes on mineral water

Ingredients:

• eggs – 2 pcs;
• mineral water – 300 ml;
• wheat flour – 150 g;
• salt – a pinch;
• sugar – to taste.

chef, expert of the “Farm” cafe at the “City Farm on VDNKh”

“The secret is to let the dough stand for 15-20 minutes after adding the flour. Then the pancakes will not tear”.

Cooking the batter:

1. Beat the eggs with salt and sugar.
2. Add the flour and vegetable oil, then let the batter stand for 15-20 minutes.
3. Add mineral water to the mixture, mixing thoroughly.
4. Fry on a frying pan.

Pancakes on amaranth flour

Pancakes on amaranth flour are very nutritious, as they have a high protein content – per 100 grams, 23 grams of protein.

Ingredients:

• amaranth flour – 200 g;
• extra wheat flour or whole wheat flour – about 100 g;
• milk and/or whey – 600 g;
• eggs – 2-3 pcs;
• vegetable oil – 2 tbsp;
• sugar or sweet syrup – 30 g;
• salt – 1 pinch.

Preparation of the dough:

1. Beat eggs, sugar (or syrup), salt with a whisk.
2. Add the milk and whisk again thoroughly.
3. Add both types of flour and vegetable oil, mix.
4. Bake in the usual way on a frying pan.

Banana pancakes

Nutritious and delicious, they turn out very tender.

Ingredients:

• bananas – 2 pcs;
• milk – 0.5 liters;
• flour – 150 g;
• vegetable oil – 20 g;
• egg – 2 pcs;
• sugar – 25 g;
• salt – to taste.

Preparation of the dough:

1. Beat the bananas and milk with a blender until mushy.
2. Add flour and mix thoroughly.
3. Only after that add eggs beaten with salt and sugar, mix.
4. Start frying the pancakes.

Do not be afraid to experiment with additives, because this is a great way to please and surprise your loved ones and guests. Enjoy new flavors and aromas.

Bon appetit!