Dutch Pancake

My brother had recently returned to Singapore for good (or not) and brought with him this simple and good recipe for Pannekoeken (Dutch Pancakes). It's really easy to do, flexible and makes a hearty breakfast for young and old. Best when it's hot and slightly crispy at the sides. It's a little like hotcake but has got more texture and thinner. Try it for a twist to your usual hotcakes or bread.

Pannekoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe

250 gr flour

500ml milk

2 medium eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tblsp oil (I skipped this and the pancake still taste great)

1/2 tsp sugar

If using blender or mixer, combine all ingredients and blend.

Mixing by hand method:

1. Put flour in a bowl, make a little hole in the middle. Pour in some milk in the hole and start stirring as you pour in the rest of the milk gradually

2. Mix till you achieve a smooth batter.

3. Add in the eggs one by one, then add the salt, sugar and oil. Mix well until the batter is smooth.

4. Cook the the pancakes should be baked in a non-stick frying pan (a french crepe pan is ok too) preferably in butter (or oil, if you don't like cholesterol).

5. The butter should be very hot. Pour in some batter (about 4 tabelspoons) and cook. Turn the pancake when the upper surface is dry and bubbling with holes. Flip pancake and cooked the other side.

Fillings

1. Great thing about this pancake is, you can add anything you like. Savoury or sweet is up to you. Pizza type fillings are nice and can be put on top of the pancake when you flip to cook the pancake on the other side so that the cheese and other fillings will be a little cooked also.

2. For classic fillings, try bacon, syrup and apple.

3. For the bacon pancakes you have to fry the bacon first and then pour over the batter. They are served with dutch syrup, which has a thicker consistancy than american syrup. You can use cane molasses, and that tastes almost the same as dutch pancake syrup.

4. Apple pancakes: first cooked some fine chunks of apple and pour over the batter. Here's a picture of my favourite, with cheese and ham.