Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 5 minutes | Serves: 4
There are a few keys to great pancakes: They're soft on the inside, have a crispy ring around the edge, and are fluffy enough to stand up to healthy dousing of butter and syrup.
A stack of these guys stand up to all three tests, largely thanks to the ricotta cheese that adds not only a bit of tanginess, but also results in extra fluff. The lemon zest brings a hint of freshness to brighten up the slight tartness from the ricotta.
Top with some fruit – and of course heaps of maple syrup – to really round out the flavor.
*Recipe courtesy of The Food Channel.
*This article was originally published in February, 2018.
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 1/3 cups ricotta
- 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- For brushing the griddle melted butter
Preparation
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, ricotta, sugar and lemon zest, add the flour, and stir the mixture until it is just combined.
- In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they hold stiff peaks, whisk about 1/4 of them into the ricotta mixture, and fold in the remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
- Heat a griddle over medium heat until it is hot enough to make drops of water scatter over its surface and brush with some of the melted butter.
- Working in batches, pour the batter onto the griddle in desired measurements (1⁄4 cup is ideal) and cook the pancakes for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden, brushing the griddle with some of the melted butter as necessary.
- Transfer the pancakes to a rack lined sheet tray as they are cooked, and keep them warm in a preheated 200°F oven until ready to serve.