If you ask a foreigner what popular dishes of Russian cuisine he knows, then he will certainly remember pancakes. This traditional Slavic pastry is world famous, and its history goes back to hoary antiquity. Then, just as now, pancakes were given a special and even mystical role. They were a symbol of the sun, prosperity and family well-being. They were prepared on the eve of the summer, with the hope of a rich harvest, and they saw off the same summer. Nowhere in the world do they celebrate Maslenitsa like ours, with all the breadth of the Russian soul.
Initially, pancakes were cooked on a yeast dough, and then baked in a Russian oven. Today it is almost impossible to repeat this process, if only because there are no stoves in our apartments. The old recipes were replaced by new, modernized, but no less successful ones. What is the most delicious pancake recipe? Surely one that enjoys unquestioned success in your family. Typically, this dough is prepared in milk, with the addition of eggs and flour - this recipe can be called traditional today. But in fact, the variety of this treat is very large. Pancakes are baked with yeast and kefir, brewed with boiling water and use a variety of types of flour. Today we will tell you how to bake pancakes correctly so that they are thin, delicate and certainly delicious.
A little bit about pancakes
If the hostess has pancakes lacy and thin, this is a sign that she is an excellent culinary specialist. But not everyone can master the baking of a fastidious dish the first time. The first pancake is lumpy for everyone, but it’s much more offensive if the second and third ones, and the subsequent ones turn out exactly the same. To avoid this, you need to know a few tricks about how to bake pancakes, and we will be happy to share these secrets with you.
To begin with, we will focus on the pancake baking technique, it is the same for all recipes, and after that we will move on to various options for making the dough. Following our simple recommendations, you can easily bring to life the most delicious pancake recipe for your family, even without such experience at all.
Briefly about the main thing
The main components of pancake success are a frying pan and dough. They often argue about pans, some argue that they must be made of thin metal, because this is what a real pancake pan looks like . And others insist on using cast iron with a thick bottom. Which of them to believe? Both of them are right, the preparation of pancakes depends more on how much the frying pan itself will be hot and how it was used before.
Give preference to the one whose bottom is perfectly flat and does not contain scratches. Rinse and dry it well, then pour a little oil or other fat and heat it well over a fire. Allow to cool in this condition. Drain the oil and feel free to cook pancakes.
Traditionally, the pan is greased with fat from an unsalted piece of fat strung on a fork. They wipe the hot surface, and then pour the dough. This is worth repeating if you notice that the pancakes started to stick a little. You can also use ordinary vegetable oil by dropping a little into the pan, but it should be just a little, otherwise the pancakes will turn out to be greasy.
Test preparation
What is the most delicious pancake recipe? It is not so important what proportions of products you will use, it is important to prepare everything properly. Regardless of the ingredients to be used, the dough should be uniform and liquid. This is the guarantee that the baking will be very thin and tender. In terms of density, it should resemble fermented baked milk and spread fluently over the surface.
Scoop a little dough, lift the soup ladle over the bowl and slowly pour it back. The stream should be smooth, uniform and not interrupted. If the dough is thick, add a little water, if liquid - flour.
It is best to mix the ingredients with a mixer, it is easier to avoid the appearance of lumps, but you can use a whisk or an ordinary fork, it’s much more convenient for you. All ingredients must be entered slowly, vigorously whipping the mass.
Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the dough, then the pancakes will not stick to the pan, and it will not need to be constantly lubricated. A pinch of soda added to the dough will give the most important pancake attribute - holes.
A variety of fillings are often wrapped in pancakes, if you plan to cook sweet pancakes, add a little more sugar.
Baking pancakes
Heat the pan and grease with bacon. Lift up its canopy and pour a little dough in the center, about one pancake will take half the cook or a little more. Tilt the pan away from you and start turning in a circle, making sure that the dough completely covers the surface. This needs to be done quickly so that it does not "catch". Place the skillet on the fire. As soon as the edges of the pancake acquire a golden color - it's time to turn it over. Lift the edge slightly, enter the blade completely under it and turn the pancake upside down. The movements must be neat, this is a very delicate product, and it can easily be torn. Ready pancakes are stacked, lightly smeared with melted butter.
If your pan is well cooked, then you can just throw the pancake into the air and turn it over. To do this, shake the pan sharply from side to side, if the pancake slides on the surface - boldly toss it up. It just looks complicated, but in fact, everything is very easy, and so you can quickly bake your favorite pancakes.
Simple tips on this end, it is time to proceed to no less important - recipes for making dough.
Classic milk pancakes
This is perhaps the most delicious pancake recipe, or one of the best. Pancakes are very tender, they will appeal not only to adults, but also to children. Before preparing the dough, you need to cool the milk and eggs a little. So protein and flour will bind better, and the dough will be smooth, without lumps.
Break 4 eggs into a deep bowl, add a teaspoon of salt, sugar 1.5 tablespoons and pour a liter of milk. Work a little with a mixer. Continuing to beat, gradually add flour (400 g). Leave for 15 minutes to "rest". Before baking, pour a tablespoon of vegetable oil and mix well. The pancake dough in milk is ready.
Custard pancakes
It happens that the milk bought the day before is suddenly sour, or kefir is left, which no one drinks. Where can I use all this miracle? Cook pancakes in boiling water. We will add a little soda - and our treat will turn out attractively openwork.
Take 2 cups of sour milk (kefir), beat 3 eggs to it. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and a teaspoon of salt. Beat a little, then slowly add 2 cups of flour and knead. You will need a glass of boiling water, add a teaspoon of soda into it, mix and immediately pour water into the dough. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Work a little with a mixer and you can start baking.
Lace pancakes (yeast)
This recipe is just a miracle. Surely your grandmother or mother cooked just such pancakes - “lace”. This recipe involves the use of only warm products. For him we will prepare a custard yeast dough.
In slightly warmed milk (2 cups) add 2 tablespoons of sugar, a teaspoon of salt and a bag of dried yeast. Put in heat and wait until the yeast rises from above with foam. Beat eggs (4 pieces) a little in a separate spacious bowl. Add the yeast mixture to them and mix well. Gradually add 400 g of flour, leave for 20-30 minutes warm. Boil 2 cups of water and, while stirring, pour boiling water into the mass, beat well. Add a spoonful of vegetable oil to the dough. Now you can safely bake lace pancakes. This recipe is simple, it will take no more than 30 minutes to prepare the test.
Rye flour
Have you ever tasted such a treat? No? Then you just need to cook pancakes for this recipe. Today you can buy absolutely any flour, let alone rye and even more so. So why not add a little variety. This dough is prepared for pancakes in milk very quickly.
Break 2 eggs into a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of sugar, a teaspoon of salt, whisk a little and pour half a liter of milk. Constantly stirring, gradually introduce a glass of sifted wheat flour and a glass of rye, add a whisper of soda and mix thoroughly. Then add a spoonful of vegetable oil and you can start baking. Pancakes will not be gray, despite the color of rye flour, but rather will acquire a golden blush when frying. They will turn out thin and very tender. Be sure to try it.
Sweet Chocolate Pancakes
Sweet pancakes will delight both children and adults. This is a great breakfast and a great dessert platform. You can wrap sweet cottage cheese with raisins and vanilla in them, or simply serve with jam, honey or fruit. So let's get started.
Mix 2 tablespoons of cocoa with 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, beat 2 eggs and salt a little. Pour in a glass of milk, and then gradually add a glass of flour. Mix thoroughly, gradually add water to the dough - 1 cup, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. You can start frying.
If a little creative, you can cook the original two-color pancakes. To do this, prepare white and dark dough. Pour dark dough into a hot frying pan with arbitrary curls, and fill the gaps with plain white. You will certainly enjoy the result. It will be something to surprise guests and treat yourself.
Banana pancakes
The recipe is a bit unusual for our kitchen, and this is a great reason to try it. You will get a full-fledged dessert that does not need any additives. It is also interesting that he does not need any yeast or eggs. So let's get started.
Grate 100 g of sugar with 100 g of sour cream, then add a pinch of salt and soda. Pour 2 cups of milk into the mass, mix. Enter a little 350 g of flour and mix well, we do not need lumps. Mash one peeled banana in a separate plate into a homogeneous gruel with a fork, it must be added to the dough. Pour in a spoonful of vegetable oil and mix again. The original dough is ready.
Instead of an epilogue
As you can see, the recipes for such a moody dish like pancakes are quite simple, and for sure everyone will find products for them. They will help to realize dozens of your wildest culinary ideas, because they are often cooked with all kinds of fillings. You can prepare a wonderful treat for any holiday and please the household with delicious desserts. Not everyone can resist such a variety. Mastering the technique of baking pancakes is not at all difficult. If you adhere to elementary rules, you will certainly succeed. I wish you success in culinary creativity.