Pear, twaróg & hemp seed pancakes

This is the pancake I will be making on Pancake Day 2021. It’s a new recipe, inspired by my Baltic travels. Hemp seeds are very popular in Latvia and full of goodness (and naturally occurring, feel-good CBD). They are a wonderful flavour match for ripe pear. The addition of twaróg (you can use any curd cheese or even cream cheese) imparts them with a moreish creaminess.

makes 3 large pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 pear, peeled and diced
• 150g plain flour
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg, separated
• 125ml milk
• 1 tablespoon kefir (or yoghurt)
• rapeseed/canola oil for frying
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds, toasted – to serve

good quality honey – to serve

Method

• Place the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine.
• Beat the egg white to soft peaks.
• Add the egg yolk to the flour, pour in the milk and stir until there are no lumps. Add a splash of the rapeseed oil too.
• Break the twaróg into small bits and add to the mixture (or just stir in the cream cheese thoroughly).
• Fold the beaten egg whites into the large bowl and stir gently to combine.
• Start heating up the rapeseed oil in frying pan.
• Add the pear chunks to the batter.
• Once the oil is hot individually fry your pancakes in it, for about 3 minutes each side. Drain on kitchen paper.
• Serve sprinkled with hemp seeds and drizzled with honey.