Okay, so the other day I was thinking, “I’m bored with the same old breakfast.” I wanted something different, but still kind of familiar. Then it hit me: pancakes! But not just any pancakes. I’d try my hand at some Indian-inspired ones.
Experiment Time in the Kitchen
First, I gathered my ingredients. I didn’t have a specific recipe in mind, just a general idea. So, I grabbed some regular all-purpose flour, because, why not? Then, I added a bit of semolina (sooji) for that slightly grainy texture I love in some Indian sweets. I figured it would give the pancakes a nice bite.
Next, spices! I tossed in some ground cardamom, because it just smells amazing and reminds me of gulab jamun. I also added a pinch of turmeric, mostly for that beautiful golden color. And because I like a little kick, I threw in a tiny bit of chili powder. Don’t worry, it wasn’t much, just enough for a subtle warmth.
Mixing and Matching
- All-purpose flour
- Semolina (sooji)
- Ground cardamom
- Turmeric powder
- Chili powder (just a pinch!)
- Sugar (of course!)
- Milk (I used regular, but I bet coconut milk would be awesome)
- Ghee (for cooking, because butter is just not the same)
I whisked everything together with some milk, aiming for a consistency that wasn’t too thick or too runny. Kind of like regular pancake batter, maybe a tad thicker because of the semolina.
I also added suger for a little bit sweet.
The Cooking Part
I heated up my trusty old pan and greased it with a generous amount of ghee. Once it was hot, I poured in some batter, making small-ish pancakes. I didn’t want them too big, more like mini-pancakes or “uttapam” style.
The first one was a bit of a test. I flipped it too early and it kind of fell apart. Oops! But I learned my lesson and let the others cook a bit longer on the first side, until they were nicely golden and looked sturdy enough to flip.
The Taste Test
They smelled AMAZING! The cardamom was definitely the star of the show. I served them up with a dollop of plain yogurt (because Indian food and yogurt just go together) and a drizzle of honey. And you know what? They were pretty darn good!
The texture was interesting – slightly crispy on the edges, a little grainy from the semolina, and soft in the middle. The flavors were a mix of sweet, spicy, and that lovely cardamom fragrance. The yogurt added a nice coolness and the honey, well, honey makes everything better.
So, that’s my little pancake adventure! It wasn’t perfect, but it was fun, and I ended up with a breakfast that was definitely different and delicious. I’ll definitely be making these again, maybe experimenting with different spices and toppings next time. Maybe some chopped nuts or even some fruit. Who knows! That’s the beauty of cooking, right? You can just play around and see what happens.
