Indian-style fennel seed pancakes

Ingredients

  • 3 oranges
  • 90g caster sugar
  • 250g ricotta
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) ghee or oil
  • Flaked almonds, toasted, to serve

Pancakes

  • 2 green cardamom pods
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 2 cups (300g) plain flour
  • 1/3 cup (60g) fine semolina
  • 180g caster sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups (375ml) milk
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Method

  • For the pancakes, place cardamom in a mortar and pestle and pound until the pods open. Discard the husk, leaving the seeds. Add the fennel seeds and grind to a powder. Transfer ground cardamom and fennel to a large bowl with the remaining pancake ingredients and a pinch of salt flakes. Whisk together to a thick batter. Leave to rest for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, finely grate the zest of two of the oranges, then juice them. Segment the third orange. Set aside.
  • To make the orange syrup, place 100ml water and 60g caster sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Add the orange juice and simmer for 3-4 minutes until syrupy.
  • To make the whipped ricotta, whisk ricotta, orange zest and remaining 30g sugar in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
  • Heat a little ghee in a large frypan over a medium-low heat. In batches, add about 1/4 cup pancake batter to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned on the bottom. Flip over, reduce the heat and cook slowly for 5-6 minutes, so the thick batter is cooked through.
  • Once done, set aside and keep warm on a plate and repeat with remaining ghee and batter.
  • Serve pancakes topped with ricotta, orange syrup and flaked almonds.

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