Savory Pancakes

When you think of pancakes we all think of a sweet breakfast food with syrup.  But the basic pancake mix can be made into a much different experience for breakfast or dinner that is more of a savory dish than sweet.  Here are some examples.

1) Ricotta  Cheese Pancakes

Makes 20 (3-inch) pancakes

• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 3 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• Preheat oven to 200ºF.
• Cook onion, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in 2 tablespoons butter in a small heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, then add cottage cheese, eggs, flour, 1/4 cup butter, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper and whisk until combined.
• Brush a 12-inch nonstick skillet with some of remaining butter and heat over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 5, scoop 1/8-cup measures of batter into skillet and cook until undersides are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until undersides are golden brown and pancakes are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Brush skillet with butter between batches if necessary.
  
  2) Carrot and Sweet Potato Pancakes
  Pureeing cooked carrots and cooked sweet potato and adding to any pancake mix with a little vanilla makes a great way to add vegetables to your diet in a delicious way.  Add a little crushed drained pineapple and syrup as a topping and you have your fruit too.
  
  
  3) Mexican Pancakes
  1/2 cup salsa
  1/2 cup cooked onion
  1/2 cup cooked green peppers
  1/3 cup chopped ham
  Mix ingredients into pancake batter
  Pour batter with ingredients on hot pan and drop a cracked egg in the middle of each pancake
  Flip pancake to cook egg well
  Top grilled pancake with more salsa and sour cream
  
  
  4) Decadent Pancakes
  These  are pancakes I haven't tried but had a friend once told me about.  He took a Cinnabon and sliced it into 3/4 inch slices and dipped it in pancake batter and grilled them.  He called them decadent pancakes.  Maybe I will try them some day.