Make your pancake batter, stir in bacon, bell peppers and scallions, then cook as usual. Instead of the traditional sweet syrup, pour melted cheese over them. Oooh, these pancakes are really good.
Cook’s notes
Why? What’s wrong with plain pancakes drizzled with syrup? I don’t like syrup on my pancakes. I never did. If I have to have my pancakes with something sweet, let it be honey or fruit jam. Even then, I get tired of them easily. Not enough contrast in flavor and texture.
So, I thought about savory pancakes. Although bacon will always be my first choice for making these savory pancakes, feel free to substitute other cured meats. Ham, crumbled sausage meat, chopped salami or pepperoni are all good.
And the cheese sauce? How do you make it? Oh, that’s really easy. Just microwave grated cheese with a little milk, stir until smooth and it’s ready to be poured over your savory pancakes.
Bacon pancakes with cheese sauce
Ingredients
- 75 grams bacon (2.6 oz) julienned
- ¼ cup chopped bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
- 1 cup all-purpose flour do not press into the measuring cup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
Cook the bacon, peppers and scallions
- Heat a non-stick pan. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat until a little fat has been rendered.
- Add the chopped bell pepper and scallions. Cook, stirring for about a minute. Transfer the mixture to a plate and cool.
Make the pancake batter
- Stir together the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder.
- In a mixing bowl, lightly beat the egg and milk.
- Add the flour mixture and stir just until blended.
- Fold in the melted butter.
- Add the bacon mixture to the batter. Stir lightly to combine.
- Reheat the pan (where some bacon fat goodness still covers the bottom) and start cooking the pancakes.
- Pour a quarter cup of pancake batter into the hot pan.
- When the center has a few bubbles while the edges are almost covered with them (it takes 45 seconds, on the average), flip the pancake over and cook for another 20 seconds.
Make the cheese sauce
- Stir together the grated cheese and milk in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave on HIGH for about two minutes or just until the cheese is soft enough to be stirred into a thick, smooth sauce.
Assemble and serve
- Stack the pancakes and pour some cheese sauce over them.
- If you want added depth of flavor, color and texture, sprinkle in more sliced scallions and a little cayenne.
Chocolate and peanut butter bars