Sourdough Pancakes

Sourdough starter is a wonderful thing – I’ve not yet used mine to make bread, but already my nose and mouth have developed an appreciation for all it can convey. Take these pancakes, for instance; never before has a pancake been so flavourful, complex or versatile. Indeed, what you see before you are equally suited to both sweet and savoury toppings – there need be no limit to your imagination here. Just you wait!

The thing about sourdough is that it demands regular feeding (either weekly or twice daily, depending on ambient temperature). Feeding isn’t really a problem – it’s rather like having a lack lustre pet – but it does necessitate a certain amount of discarding (unless you intend to invest in a sourdough pool). Of course, since waste isn’t an option a solution was vital. Happily, sourdough pancakes are strikingly simple, delish and make good use of starter otherwise destined for the bin.

The recipe below is a very quick rendition and yields relatively mild pancakes. If you prefer something a little more ‘sour’ feel at perfect liberty to mix together the starter, flour and milk the evening before use to be left to stand. Either way, you’ll find them the perfect start to any day of the week – full of flavour and energy.

Local connection: This recipe was made possible by Joanna of Zeb Bakes. Joanna is a Bristol-based food blogger and sourdough wonder who kindly agreed to provide me with my first starter. As such, any sourdough recipe that appears here is directly attributable to her fair hand!

Sourdough Pancakes {recipe}

Makes 8-10

Ingredients:

• 100ml sourdough starter

• 150ml whole milk

• 120g plain flour

• 2 eggs

• 25 butter, extra to serve

• A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Break the eggs into a large bowl, stir in the milk, flour, sourdough and add a pinch of salt. Melt the butter and incorporate too.

2. Heat a heavy-based frying pan and apply a small amount of oil across its surface. Use a ladle to tip in a little mixture at a time – cook on both sides until golden. Serve in a stack with a knob of salted butter.

Cost: The beauty of this recipe is that it avoids unnecessary waste. As such, I’m loath to put a price on it, but these things must be done. These pancakes, which should feed four, will set you back around 80p – a bargain!