Ligurian Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes

[paulraphael]

Ligurian Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes

Serves 3 as Main Dish.

These were inspired by the familiar and the exotic; the classic lemon poppyseed muffin, and a phenomenal cake recipe by Pierre Hermé that blends the flavor of lemons and Ligurian olive oil.

I've kept the Ligurian name in honor of M. Herme, but I personally prefer a more assertive olive oil. Nothing heavy or bitter, but a light oil with a good taste of fruit, and some spicy/peppery overtones works well.

Pierre's cake includes raspberries, so it's no surprise that raspberries (fresh or infused in hot maple syrup) are delicious on these. They're also great with plain maple syrup.

• 1-1/2 c all purpose flour
  
• 1/3 c sugar
  
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
  
• 1 T poppyseeds (approx)
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 1 c whole milk
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 small lemon, zest and juice (or 1/2 large)
  
• 1-1/2 T unsalted butter
  
• 2-1/2 T olive oil
  

-lightly toast poppyseeds in a small, ungreased saucespan, until they release their fragrance.

-add butter and let it melt. turn heat very low and cook for a few minutes.

-set aside 1TB of the sugar for the whipped egg white. mix zest into the remaining sugar in a mixing bowl, with your fingers, until moist and fragrant

-add other dry ingredients to sugar/zest. stir to blend

-separate one of the eggs and set the white aside, preferably in a copper mixing bowl

-in separate bowl whisk the yolk and the whole egg into milk

-whisk in melted butter/poppyseed slurry and continue whisking until frothy

-stir in the olive oil

-gently stir liquid ingredients into solid ingredients until eveything is moistened. do not beat. do not worry about lumps

-start preheating pan or griddle

-with electric mixer or baloon whisk, whip egg white to soft peaks

-add tablespoon of sugar, and continue whipping to firm peaks. don't overwhip; they should still be glossy and moist.

-stir lemon juice into batter

-fold egg whites into batter

-cook like regular pancakes (they will be thick, so prepared to use slightly lower heat). grease the pan with olive oil instead of butter.

Keywords: Main Dish, Cake, Easy, Breakfast, Fruit

( RG1989 )