Pancake Day is here! Perhaps you're partial to the classic American style or love a light crepe, but what about something new this year? Experiment with something different and try a vegan recipe with our added secret ingredient - probiotics!
Within this artile:
Pancake Day is a fantastic way to indulge in a sweet treat with the added benefit of good bacteria!
Why Pancakes Are Great With Probiotics
Pancakes and probiotics are a match made in heaven. Plus, they're both at their best first thing in the morning so your gut will be happy in more ways than one on Pancake Day! Simply take your probiotic when you're eating the pancake or leave the pancake to cool slightly and sprinkle with the contents of a probiotics capsule or sachet. Plus it's a great way for kids to get their good bacteria fix in a fun, new way!
Vegan blueberry pancakes
Environmentally-friendly pancakes, perfect for the whole family! Recipe from the always reliable Jamie Oliver...
Ingredients
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 tablespoon coconut oil
250 ml almond milk
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon golden caster sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 pinch of sea salt
50 g blueberries (plus extra to serve)
vegetable oil
soya yoghurt (to serve)
maple syrup (to serve)
Instructions
Whisk together ground flaxseed and 2.5 tablespoons of cold water, then set aside to thicken. Meanwhile, melt the coconut oil in a small pan over a medium eat, then leave to cool slightly.
Combine the almond milk and cider vinegar. Add the melted coconut oil, then whisk in the flaxseed mixture.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt, then make a well in the middle. Gradually pour in the wet mixture, stirring continuously until combined. Fold in the blueberries, then set aside.
Preheat the oven to its lowest temperature. Heat a splash of vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add a ladleful of the batter to the pan (one is enough for one pancake) then add more ladlefuls of the batter, ensuring they're nicely spaced out. You'll need to do this in batches.
Cook for around 2 minutes, or until golden underneath and little bubbles start to appear on the surface. Flip, cook for a further 2 minutes (or until golden). TOP TIP: Place in the oven to keep warm while you make remaining pancakes
Serve with a dollop of soya yoghurt, a drizzle of maple syrup, extra blueberries and of course, a sprinkle of your daily probiotics!
Our easy peasy, original recipe
family feast
Keep it classic with this healthy stack of pancakes...
Ingredients
2 eggs
110 g plain flour (use wholegrain for a healthier option)
200 ml milk
75 g sparkling water
pinch of salt
butter for the frying pan
garnish of your choice: any combination of fruit; salmon & cream cheese; grilled bacon & maple syrup; grilled bacon & avocado; cheddar cheese
Instructions
Whisk all ingredients together in a mixing bowl for about 1 minute or until smooth.
In a moderately hot frying pan swirl in a knob of butter until slightly foaming.
Place a dollop of the pancake batter in the pan and tip the pan around from side to side to evenly coat it with batter.
Cook until bubbles appear on the surface then flip over and cook for another minute.
Serve warm with any topping of your choice, plus a probiotic!
A family feast with a healthy twist!
Pancake Day: All day, every day!
Here's a quick guide to freezing and reheating your homemade pancakes:
Simply prepare the batter and make your delicious pancakes then once they are fully cooked and cooled you can begin freezing them The best way to freeze them without sticking is to place a layer of baking paper in-between each pancake and layer in a freezer bag, with one bag per portion. That way you can microwave them (20-60 seconds) or in the oven (very low heat - 10 minutes).
Enjoy this article? You might also be interested in:
- Do vegans and vegetarians have healthier gut bacteria?
- The Food Myth - ‘You can get all the probiotics you need from your diet.’
