Best Heirloom Pea Pancakes Recipes

PEA PANCAKES WITH SOUR CREAM AND BACON

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder, and set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the peas. Return water to a boil; cook 1 minute. Drain in a colander; transfer peas to the ice bath to stop cooking and preserve their color. Drain, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Transfer 2/3 cup peas to the jar of a blender. Add cream, butter, and remaining teaspoon salt; blend until mixture is smooth and combined. Add eggs, and process a few seconds more, just until they are fully combined. Fold pea mixture into flour mixture, and fold in remaining whole peas. Set aside.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until fat is rendered and bacon is golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate; let drain. Pour off all but 2 teaspoons rendered fat from pan into a heat-proof bowl, and set aside.
• Return pan to medium heat. Working in batches, drop heaping tablespoons of pea batter into pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Cook until underside is golden, about 2 minutes. Turn pancakes over, and cook until other side is golden and pancakes are cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with remaining batter, adding reserved fat as needed between batches.
• Place pancakes on a large serving tray or individual plates. Top each pancake with a dollop of sour cream, and sprinkle with bacon. Serve immediately.

HEIRLOOM PEA PANCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Fill a bowl with ice water. Bring a pot of water to a boil, then lightly salt it. Add sugar snap peas to boiling water, and blanch for 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and plunge immediately into ice bath. Remove sugar snap peas from ice water, and reserve. Repeat procedure for the shelled peas, blanching them for 3 minutes or until tender. Reserve.
• Puree sugar snap peas with the milk and the cream in a blender or food processor. Pour into a large mixing bowl, and whisk in the egg. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into mixture, and whisk to combine. Coarsely puree reserved shelled peas in food processor, then fold into batter.
• In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon butter. Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into pan. When edges are lightly browned, place pan in oven and bake for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from oven, and flip pancakes over gently with a spatula. Cook until bottoms are lightly browned; return to oven for another minute. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Repeat process until all batter is used.

CRISPY CHICKPEA PANCAKES WITH ROASTED MUSHROOM SALAD

Steps:

• Make the pancake batter: Pour the warm water into a large mixing bowl and gradually whisk in the chickpea flour in small amounts to avoid lumps. Add the salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons oil, and whisk again until smooth. The batter should be the consistency of heavy cream. If it's too thick, whisk in more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time. If the batter is lumpy, use an immersion blender or blender to get it nice and smooth. Set the batter aside at room temperature for about 2 hours.
• Make the topping: Position racks near the top and bottom of the oven, and heat oven to 450 degrees. Roughly chop or tear the mushrooms and toss with 2 tablespoons oil and the kosher salt on a sheet pan. Spread the mushrooms in an even layer and roast on the top rack for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned, mixing the mushrooms midway so they cook evenly.
• Meanwhile, make the pancakes: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in an 8- or 9-inch frying pan with an ovenproof handle over medium. When the oil is hot, swirl it to evenly coat the bottom of the pan and pour in half the chickpea batter. It should be about ¼ inch deep. When the bottom is set, after about 1 minute, slide the pan onto the lower oven rack and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and crisp, but the center is still tender. Use a spatula to release the edges and slide it onto a cutting board. Repeat with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and the remaining batter.
• Tear the radicchio leaves into bite-size pieces, then add to the sheet pan of slightly cooled mushrooms along with the vinegar and remaining tablespoon oil. Season with the flaky salt and black pepper, and mix well. Cut the pancakes into squares, transfer to serving plates, top with the mushroom mix and eat while still warm.