Green Pancakes 緑のパンケーキ

We like pancakes. My wife collects pancake recipes. Usually, she puts the batter together and I cook the pancakes. This is an interesting and visually stunning pancake. The original recipe came from Washington Post. This was topped with a mixture of fresh goat cheese and Greek yogurt.

The green color is from spinach and mint. The flavor of mint prevails.

Ingredients (from WP)
2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 large eggs, separated into whites and yolks
2 cups whole milk
7 ounces fresh spinach (we cooked spinach without adding water until wilted). Squeeze out as much moisture as possible
1/2 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves with stems (1/2 ounce; use tender leaves and stems; avoid using dark, tough stems)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Olive oil
1/2 cup fresh goat cheese, for serving (we used a mixture of goat cheese and Greek yogurt)
1/2 cup strawberry preserves, for serving (we did not use this)
1/2 cup roasted unsalted pumpkin seeds, for serving (we did not have this).


Version #2 with cake flour (no spinach)
1 cup AP flour

1 cup + 2 Tbs. Cake flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 large eggs, separated into whites and yolks
2 cups whole milk
2 cups lightly packed fresh mint leaves  (1 ounce; use tender leaves.)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
(This was the version we used 6/18/2022)


Directions:
Stir together the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
Beat the egg whites in a separate, clean bowl, until they form stiff peaks.
Combine the egg yolks, milk, melted butter, spinach and mint in the vitamix blender and process until fully incorporated (#1) Pour that mixture into the flour mixture and stir well. Gently fold in the egg whites (all at once) (#2).

Coat a small nonstick skillet lightly with the olive oil and heat over medium-high heat (#3).
Scoop up the batter (using the largest ice cream scoop) and pour into the center of the skillet.
Cook until browned in spots on the bottom side and bubbles have formed around the edges, 2 to 3 minutes.
Use a spatula (and wrist action) to flip the pancake to cook the second side.  (#4). Repeat to use all the batter
Serve right away, topped with goat cheese (savory) and/or with strawberry preserves (sweet). Top with pumpkin seeds. (we used a mixture of goat cheese and Greek yogurt).

This is an amazingly good pancake. The green color is rather stunning. The flavor was very good, although we do not particularly taste spinach, mint flavor is quite nice. The texture was also pleasantly moist. We do not think the topping is not particularly needed. Perfect breakfast with Cappuccino.