Fluffy pancakes: the simple and delicious recipe

Few things are more comforting than a plate of fluffy, warm, sugar-dusted pancakes, especially when you're far from home. We all know that childhood taste, when pancakes would pile up on the table and we'd fill them with the jams and preserves we'd stocked in the pantry. Yes, many peoples make pancakes, and they're all good in their own way. It's just... they're just different.

The French pancake, fine and delicate, doesn't really like reheating. It dries out. Russian blinis are thick, dense, have a different story. They're too stiff. But our Romanian pancake is light, supple and fluffy, somehow always ready to be filled with whatever your heart desires: jam, cheese, mushrooms or even meat.

At our UK-based Romanian food store, we know how important it is to be able to recreate the taste of home, even when you're far away. So we've brought you a simple and delicious recipe for fluffy pancakes, just the way you know them, plus some filling ideas to remind you of family meals.

Ingredients needed for fluffy pancakes

The secret to fluffy pancakes lies in the perfect balance between the ingredients: eggs, flour , liquid and a dash of fat. To make it easy for you, think of it this way: if you add 3 eggs, then you need about 1 part flour, 2 parts liquid and 1/5 part fat. Simple, right? This way you get thin, elastic and soft pancakes, perfect for filling with whatever you like.

The quantities below make about 12 pancakes, perfect for a family meal.

Ingredients for simple and fluffy pancakes

• 3 eggs
• 250 g white flour
• 500-550 ml milk (or milk + mineral water)
• 50 g melted butter (or 40 ml oil)
• 1 pinch of salt
  

Optional:

• 1 teaspoon powdered sugar (for sweet pancakes)
• 1 sachet vanilla sugar or the seeds from 1 vanilla pod
• grated lemon peel (to taste)
• a dash of rum (for flavor)
• mineral water (can partially or even completely replace milk)
• cinnamon (if you fill them with apples)
  

Step-by-step preparation method

• Sift the flour into a larger bowl.

Sifting helps aerate the flour and prevents lumps. It's a simple but essential step, because it makes the difference between just okay pancakes and the most successful fluffy pancakes.

• Break the eggs directly onto the flour and add a pinch of salt.
• Prepare the cold, full-fat milk.

Avoid semi-skimmed milk, because you want the pancake batter to be rich and creamy, not watery.

• Pour about a third of the milk over the flour and eggs.

Mix well until you get a thick paste without lumps.

• Add the melted (but cooled) butter.

You can substitute with oil if you don't have any at home. You'll get fluffy pancakes with any of these fats, as long as you incorporate them well into the batter.

• Gradually pour in the rest of the milk.

Mix vigorously to obtain a smooth pancake batter, like thinner sour cream.

• Let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes.

During this time, the flour is completely hydrated, and the dough becomes more elastic and easier to work with.

• After the break, mix the dough again.
• Heat the pan well.

Drizzle a very small amount of oil (about the size of a small coin) and swirl the pan to spread the oil evenly.

• Pour a ladle of batter.

Immediately swirl the pan to get a thin layer that covers the bottom and a little of the edges.

• Bake the pancake over medium heat.

Don't keep it for long, just until it's lightly browned on the edges. Flip it with a spatula or in one motion, if you dare.

Tips for perfect pancakes

To get the best fluffy pancakes, it's important to keep a few simple tricks in mind. Keep them in mind when preparing your pancake recipe and they'll come out tender and fluffy!

• Sift the flour before using it.

This step helps aerate the batter and prevents lumps. The pancakes come out smoother and more uniform, and their texture becomes supple and soft.

• Use cold, full-fat milk , not semi-skimmed.

Fatty milk gives consistency to the batter and helps with that creamy, flavorful feel of pancakes.

• If you don't want to use milk, you can turn the recipe into a fluffy pancake recipe with mineral water.

Mineral water can completely replace milk, and the pancakes will be lighter, but just as tasty. And if you just want to make them a little more "fluffy", you can replace half of the milk with mineral water. The bubbles help create a more aerated texture.

• Respect the proportions.

To put it bluntly, you can get some edible pancake sheets if you add the ingredients as a guide, until you feel like you've achieved the right consistency. But if you want fluffy pancakes, we recommend following the recipe. For each egg you will use 80-100 g of flour, depending on how thick you want the pancakes to be. Then, for one part flour, you need 2 parts liquid and 1 tablespoon of fat. This is a safe base for any fluffy pancake recipe.

• Add the liquid gradually.

Start with a third of the amount, mix until you get a thick paste, then add the fat and, finally, the rest of the liquid. This will keep the dough smooth, without lumps.

• Let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes.

During this time, the flour hydrates, and the dough becomes more elastic and easier to stretch.

• Heat the pan well.

Add just a drizzle of oil and swirl the pan to distribute it evenly. Too much oil can ruin the texture of the pancakes.

• Pour the batter and immediately rotate the pan.

This way you will get a thin layer that covers the bottom of the pan well and a little of the edges.

• Bake over medium heat.

The pancake should turn golden brown on the edges before you carefully flip it over.

• Gently mix the dough between turns.

This way you will keep it homogeneous and perfect for each pancake.

Filling and serving options

No matter how good a pancake recipe is, the magic often lies in the filling. From sweet to savory, each variation adds a new flavor, transforming simple batter into truly delicious pancakes, perfect for any time of day. Below are our most beloved filling ideas, inspired by the tastes of home.

Sweet fillings for fluffy and delicious pancakes:

• Pancakes with jam

They are the simplest and most beloved traditional pancakes. After baking them, you spread them with your favorite jam (cherry, apricot or plum), roll them up nicely and sprinkle them with vanilla sugar. Simply prepare the fluffy pancake recipe and they will turn out wonderfully with this sweet, homemade filling.

• Pancakes with jam gratin

A special treat for moments of indulgence. The pancakes are filled with jam, placed on a platter, dusted with sugar and lightly caramelized to give them fine, grill-like marks. A sweet surprise for lovers of delicious pancakes.

• Fluffy pancakes with marmalade, nuts and rum

Filled with marmalade and enriched with toasted and finely chopped walnuts, plus a splash of rum, these fluffy pancakes have a rich and fragrant taste, ideal for a festive dessert.

• Pancakes with grated apples
  

In the batter obtained from a pancake recipe, you add grated apples, and the pancakes come out a little thicker and more intensely aromatic. When serving, you can dust them with vanilla sugar or drizzle with fruit syrup. They are a perfect choice in the fall, when apples are sweet and juicy.

• Pancakes with flambéed fruits

Here's a recipe for a spectacular dessert: pancakes are filled with fruit, dusted with sugar, and, just before serving, sprinkled with rum, which ignites. The pancakes take on an intense flavor and will have a memorable presentation.

• Pancakes with apple souffle

Apple slices are dipped in pancake batter, fried until golden brown, then served with powdered sugar and syrup. A combination of pancake and fruit dessert, perfect for lovers of delicious pancakes with a crunchy touch.

Cheese fillings for traditional pancakes

• Pancakes with cottage cheese and raisins

This is an ideal composition for fluffy pancakes lightly browned in the oven. Sweet cheese, mixed with sugar, raisins and egg yolks, brings back the taste of childhood. Serve with sour cream for extra flavor.

• Pancakes with urad dal and dill

This is a perfect example of traditional savory pancakes. Fresh yogurt, mixed with chopped dill and salt, turns the pancakes into a delicate and flavorful appetizer.

• Pancakes with sweet cheese and dill

A unique combination of sweet and savory, cottage cheese with dill gives fluffy pancakes a balanced taste, perfect for a snack or a light dinner.

Savory fillings for hearty pancakes

• Pancakes with mushrooms

The pancakes are filled with mushrooms seasoned with onion, salt, and pepper, then rolled up and can be baked. These delicious pancakes are ideal as a main course, especially when you want something filling but light.

• Pancakes with spinach puree

A tasty recipe, in which boiled and chopped spinach is mixed with butter, milk and flour. With this composition, fluffy pancakes are filled, then lightly browned in the oven. Perfect for those who love greens.

• Pancakes with spinach and cheese

Similar to the previous version, but enriched with grated cheese. The pancakes are gratinated, becoming golden and crispy on the outside, with a soft and flavorful interior.

• Pancakes with mashed potatoes and tomato sauce or sour cream

Creamy and spicy mashed potatoes go well with traditional pancakes. Serve warm with tomato sauce or sour cream.

• Pancakes with minced meat

Pork or beef, mixed with onion, garlic, sour cream and parsley. The filling is placed in pancakes, which are then baked in the oven. It is a filling and aromatic dish, ideal for a hearty meal.

• Pancakes with sausage and cheese

A tasty variation: sliced ​​smoked sausage mixed with cheese and dill. The pancakes are gratinated with sour cream. It is an excellent choice for lovers of authentic Romanian food.

Now you have the courage to venture into the world of pancakes? You already have a recipe for fluffy pancakes at hand, you know the ideal proportions of the ingredients and especially that you can fill them with... almost anything your heart desires. A&S Market quickly delivers all the ingredients you need to the UK, so all you have to worry about is preparing the dough, frying the pancakes and filling them with goodies.

Enjoy your meal!