I admit to actually having to Google the precise significance of Shrove Tuesday. TGF (thank the gods for Google) and Wikipedia for filling in my general knowledge on a day that I vaguely remember as having some importance while I was school age. Having attended a CoE primary school and been sent to extra (optional) religion lessons by a well-meaning parent, I see that it all the religious terminology fell on deaf ears or fell by the wayside.

Anyway, commonly known as pancake day, Shrove Tuesday does sneak into my calendar for foodie reasons if not religious. One aspect of the day I do remember from childhood is my father’s expert tossing; one Shrove Tuesday, he tossed a large thin pancake so high it got wrapped around the kitchen light bulb.

Far from making pancakes to use up eggs (which don’t seem particularly indulgent a food to forego pre Lent), I am making these to mark pancake day. Though we tend to eat pancakes almost every weekend, when I’ve time to make a more leisurely breakfast.

Blueberries are fairly obvious an addition to pancakes, so no Brownie points here for innovation in this recipe. If you live in the southern Mediterranean though, blueberries are indulgent as they don’t grow here and have to be imported at expense. (Rare) Praise be to Lidl for having them cheap enough for me to splash out on two punnets.

Another ingredient in this little number we don’t find easily in Malta is buttermilk. I bothered to make my own so I could try it just the once in pancakes after seeing it listed in so many recipes over the years. What’s the taste difference to regular milk? Really not sure I discovered one but it could be my cold not letting me define the taste. Here’s a link to how to make it if you don’t wish to use regular milk or a mix of plain yoghurt and milk in the pancakes.

And finally, as our almond trees are in full bloom now, and as a nod to the promise of spring on a day of sunshine and showers, I’ve used ground almonds to replace half the flour. This makes for a slightly heavier pancake so leave it long enough to cook each side before flipping – the little bubbles that show through top need to be bigger bubbles before you flip. Almond flour pancakes, so I found anyway, tend to stick a bit more so use your best non-stick or regular well-used and patina pancake pan to turn them out perfectly.

To dress them, ah, another costly indulgence – maple syrup. Perhaps fittingly rich pancakes suited to Shrove Tuesday after all then?

All images © Liz Ayling 2014

Blueberry Almond Pancakes

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Makes around 8-9 small round, puffed-up pancakes.

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 8-9

Ingredients

• 65g plain flourprint button transparent
• 65g ground almonds
• 2 rounded tsps baking powder
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp quality vanilla essence
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 100ml buttermilk (or use regular milk or half-half milk-plain yoghurt)
• 100g blueberries
• knob of butter for cooking
• extra berries and maple syrup to serve
• cream & flaked almonds to serve optional

Method

1. Whisk eggs up in large bowl then whisk in the flour, ground almonds and baking powder, followed by the maple syrup, vanilla essence and milk. Whisk well until all thoroughly combined. Leave to stand for around 10 minutes.
2. Fold in around 75g of the blueberries gently so as not to break them up
3. Heat a non-stick (cast-iron ideal) omlette pan or flat (not ridged) griddle pan over a high heat. When glowing, turn the heat down a little and toss in a small knob of butter. Ensure the butter is spread across the pan, then pour in one large spoonful of the pancake batter. It will spread a little and rise fairly quickly. Once you see small bubble on the upper surface, flip the pancake over. Each side takes around 3 minutes. You may need a little extra butter between pancakes; note the first pancake may not work out as well as the later ones.
4. Keep pancakes in a warm oven on a metal plate so they keep warm while you cook each pancake individually.
5. Serve in a stack with maple syrup, almond flakes and extra blueberries on top. If you make extra (double the mixture), they can be reheated quite successfully covered with foil in a low oven for around 15 mins.

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