Pancakes, flat jacks, hotcakes…no matter what you call them they’re delicious. If you disagree, message me and we can have a pank doo (pancake) debate. If I do find a non-pancake lover, I’d have the right mind to slap them across the face with one (like on the movie Grown-ups). For those of you that are in agreement with my love of pancakes, here’s a dip your toe in the raw water recipe of deliciousness.
I got this recipe from Brendan Brazier’s book Thrive. It’s a great book for athletes and non-athletes alike. Vegans, health-nuts, and just people trying to be healthier can get some great ideas from it. While Brendan’s recipe calls for buckwheat flour, I use whatever is on hand. I would suggest keeping to a gluten-free flour, in order to keep these light on the stomach and easy to digest.
If you’re a brave raw foodist you can, like me, first sprout the buckwheat, or other grain. Then dehydrate until crunchy. Next grind in your food processor to desired consistency. Now you have raw, sprouted, living flour! Because this is such a process that takes several days, I do a big batch at a time and store it in the freezer. The steps are REALLY easy, it just takes a bit of planning. Probably a total of ten minutes actual work time. If you don’t have a dehydrator, the time, or simply the gumption, start out with buckwheat, quinoa, or even almond flour.
Now, on to the recipe:
Stuff you need:
1 cup buckwheat flour (or other gluten-free flour, preferably sprouted)
1/4 cup flaxseed, ground (I use sprouted flax seed)
1/4 cup hemp protein powder (I use Garden of Life’s raw protein powder or Vega Protein Powder which is mostly raw)
2 teaspoons baking powder (this is optional and make sure to use aluminum-free powder : ) )
1 teaspoon cinnamon and whatever other spices your tongue desireth
1 banana
2 cups water
1/4 cup raw oat flakes or some other flakes like barley flakes, or you could add sprouted buckwheat, walnuts or anything else for some crunch and texture interest
Other fruit, like berries. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blackberries, or dingle-berries (I don’t know what those actually are). If it’s berriesque it belongs in the pancakes!
Directions:
1. Stir together the flour, flaxseed, hemp protein, baking powder, and cinnamon until they seem like one.
2. In a food processor blend the banana a some of the water until smooth.
3. Add the banana mixture and rest of the water to the flour concoction and stir until smooth
4. Mix in the berries and oat flakes, and whatever else you want.
5. Now here’s where there’s a fork in the road. You can a) dehydrate the pancakes on low or b) heat them on VERY low over the stove in a pan. Of course dehydration will take a…while. If you prefer to heat over the stove, but still want most of your food living, just be sure to keep the heat very low. The pancakes should get firm on each side after sitting about five minutes. The center will be moist and undercooked, but delicious none-the-less.
Now every good pancake has to have a delicious topping. You can do the ever so over done maple syrup or agave nectar, honey if you desire. In my opinion though, this raspberry topping I made for Todd really completes it.
Stuff you need:
1 cup raspberries
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon stevia or maple syrup or agave nectar (may need more according to taste)
Directions:
Blend everything together in a coffee grinder or food processor.
Throw it on top of your pancakes.
Now, I’m no expert, but the sweetness and fun color of this topping seems like a great way to introduce kids to raw pancakes.
And there you have it: A gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, nut free, low sugar, healthy carb, healthy fat, nutrient dense pancake of scrumptiousness. They’re high-fiber, high vitamin c from the berries, provide plenty of essential fatty acids omega 3-6-9 from the flaxseed and hemp protein, high-enzyme, and just over-all good for you. : ) Compare that to the average pancake which is made with white flour (no fiber), egg (no omega 3s unless you buy free range), milk (no enzymes, no probiotics (important good bacteria stuff that your tummy and immune system like), not to mention the puss that’s included from over-milking the cow’s (yuuuum!)), and oil (unless it’s an extra virgin oil sourced from GOOD fats (like flaxseed, coconut oil, olive oil, walnut oil, etc) it offers virtually no benefit other than making your fat cells engorged (delightful). I think we know who wins this one. : )
Renee
Renee Goes Raw's Blog 