Moroccan honeycomb pancakes
“Pancakes can be sweet or savoury, thick or thin - and provide a great excuse to eat maple syrup.”
- 1 tbsp dried yeast
- 1 tspn sugar
- 6 tbsp warm water
- 450g plain flour
- pinch salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- olive oil or grapeseed oil
- 100g butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- orange-flower water
- chopped unsalted pistachio nuts
Based on a recipe from Robert Carrier. These yeast pancakes are cooked on one side only and develop little holes like a crumpet - all the better for soaking up the honey and melted butter.
Method
Mix yeast with sugar and sprinkle over warm water. Stir and set aside for 10 minutes or until bubbly.
Sift flour and salt into a large bowl and make a well. Lightly whisk the egg with the water, milk and yeast mixture and pour into the well. Using a whisk, draw the flour into the liquid and beat until smooth and like thick cream.
Rest for 1 hour. When ready the batter should be covered with small bubbles.
Heat a heavy based pan, brush with oil or buttered paper and pour a ladleful of batter (about 60ml) onto the hot pan. Quickly smooth with back of the ladle or a spoon to make an even circle and cook until little bubbles appear on the surface. The trick is to make the pancake as thin as possible. The first will not look very promising. When correctly cooked the underside will be golden-brown and quite crisp and the uncooked side will be dotted with holes and look pretty uninspiring.
Place pancake on to a warm dish and repeat the process with the remaining batter.
In a small saucepan, melt butter with honey and add 1 teaspoon orange-flower water or to taste.
Spoon the syrup over each pancake and either roll up or fold into quarters. Scatter the plate with chopped pistachio nuts and serve.
Makes about 12-15 pancakes, 12cm diameter.
This recipe features in Winter which is available now in all good
bookstores RRP $34.95. To order direct call 1300 656 059 or visit www.smh.com.au/store
