Creating the perfect pancake was always a struggle for me. Especially because I use cast iron or Chantal Copper Fusion Fry Pan – in other words, not a non stick pan because of the unhealthy chemicals used in the coating (that topic is for another day).
Consequently my pancakes would stick to the bottom and create massive clean-up issues and deformed (but tasty!) pancakes.
Not anymore! My parents visited us last year and I watched my dad make perfect pancakes with easy cleanup. Here’s how he does it. (Step 1 is crucial!)
Step 1
Add 1+ tablespoon of ghee (or coconut ghee oil) in a pan and turn the burner on HIGH for a few minutes or until a drop of water causes a sizzling sound.
Step 2
Add the pancake batter and immediately the burner to MEDIUM. You’ll know you did step 1 correctly when the oil in the pan sizzles and ripples away from the batter.
Step 3
Flip the pancake after about 30 to 60 seconds, or until bubbles appear at the top of the pancake. The second side will need about 30 seconds of frying time.
Note: Bubbles generally will not appear on thick pancakes, so then flip when the bottom of the pancake is solid. The second side will need to fry for more than a minute.
Step 4
After each batch of pancakes, or whenever the bottom of the pan is looking dry add another slab of ghee or your preferred choice of oil, with one exception: do not use vegetable oils! Why? Because they have a low heat point and will go rancid at high temperatures.
If you are concerned about too much healthy fat in your diet, don’t be! If your only knowledge of “healthy eating” is to listen to what the media says… read What’s Wrong with the Modern American Diet to know in less than 1 minute why we need red meat, egg yolks, and full fat milk and why we do NOT need soy and 6-11 servings of whole grains every day. And read the Myths and Truths about Heart Disease to know why you won’t increase your risk of heart disease by eating healthy fat.
As always, materials and stoves may offer differing results so use this as a guideline and keep an eye on your ‘cakes!
Linked to: Creative Juice, Taking a Time Out Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Full Plate Thursday
