Wednesday, April 27, 2011

(MAITRI post) Flax seeds and sweet potato pancakes


By now, everyone might have gotten acquainted with the Maitri event! Priya and Reshmi have put together a prodigious and angelic line of friendship sewing together all lovely online foodies!

 So, on Monday I got to rip off the package my partner Priya from 'Priyasnowserving'  sent. The first thing i find is this beautiful color-changing flame less candle which floats in water!!


The next moment, I was enjoying spectacular sunset and savoring my evening tea on the patio sitting right next to lighted flower candle wafting in the water inside the wide open vase (we call it Uruli) Isn't it good to not worry about when it will open, bloom,  fade or even weep over the wilted one.
Come neighbors.. envy me!

I was jumping up and down and almost at the edge of forgetting all about the secret ingredient inside.  Then, after some moments of great exhilaration, I walked out of my sunset dream and I opened the zip lock cover with a lovely note from priya. 

Priya, please convey our love and regards to your family, 3 beautiful kids and your new puppy too.. :D
Thanks a ton for the wonderful gift and cheers to an enduring friendship.
Hubby and myself almost ate up half of the seeds in it. Those were FLAX seeds.  I have seen them before, but that was the first time I tasted it.. its slightly bitter  and also has a nutty flavour when you eat it raw. Well, I recognized it.. hubby just sat and enjoyed them!


I sat down googling 'flax seeds recipe' and was amazed to read  about the nutritional values and the easiness of incorporating it with almost every meal! 

I dint want to alter the ingredient even a pinch, but first time I made pancakes with the seeds themselves, my little star started picking out the brown mini strangers one by one. So, I had to give the seeds a quick swirl in my mixer, just to break them into pieces. I did not grind them to a powder form. 2 swirls and you can see the flax pieces in those pan cakes.. See?




Flax seeds                         1/2 cup
Mashed Sweet potato       1/2 cup
  (I used chef's cupboard Mashed sweet potatoes..the dried form)
All purpose flour              3/4 cup
Baking powder                 1 tsp
Vitamin D milk                1.5 cups - 2cups
Powdered sugar                1 tbsp
Butter                               5 tbsp
Brown sugar                    2 tbsp.. for garnish

• Put the flax seeds in the mixer and give it 2-3 quick grind swirls.. Just to break them down to pieces.. You need not grind them.
• In a bowl, combine flax seeds, mashed sweet potato, all purpose flour, baking powder, powdered sugar
• Add milk and stir to form batter...( idli batter consistency)
• Heat a nonstick fry pan over medium heat.
• Add butter.. quite a generous amount . i used around 2-3 teaspoons, else pancakes might stick on to the pan making it very difficult to turn them.
•  Drop rounded scoop of batter into fry pan, flatten slightly with back of the spoon.
• Cook 1 to 1 ½ minutes or until nicely browned on bottom and around edges.
• Flip over, gently pressing down on pancake .. cook 1 to 1½ minutes or until cooked through.
• Serve warm with brown sugar and dry fruits.



Omy grabbed the full plate and wanted to eat all by himself.. Should I say more?


Starting today, flax will be seated alongside salt and pepper. A tsp of flax seeds doesn't change the taste of the dish as such, but adds a minute hint of taste very much similar to ground walnuts! Nutty flavor... Love it!

Now that I have my post, I am on a rigorous ingredient hunt to pack it to Heather Schmitt-González of Girl Chef (http://www.girlichef.com/) and Pavani of Cook's Hideout (http://cooks-hideout.blogspot.com/) .. Girls, watch out!


32 comments:

  1. Great pics and of course recipe. Love to try this out.

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  2. That s a very delicious looking combo and surely would have been tasted great... I can tell that from ur childs pic

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  3. sweet potato pancakes looks awesome. Love the idea of flax seeds in it.

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  4. That was a nice post.. felt like , u were telling me this in person.. nicely written.. bet the pancakes were super duper hit..

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  5. Wow Rachu, I read every single word, the post was so interesting. Love your gift and wow girl, you did wonders with your ingredient. I am surely going to give this a try. Love your cutie pie as well :)

    I am glad that you were part of MAITRI and enjoyed it as much as we are doing :)

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  6. Sweet potato and flax seed pancake sounds delicious.

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  7. Wat a fabulous looking pancakes, simply irresistible..

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  8. Pancakes looks yummy....Thats a cute gift :)

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  9. Irresistible pancakes...and that's a lovely gift you got from Priya.

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  10. Rachu, thrilled that flaxseed has found a place near the salt and peppa! Mine is always out to be used with our energy drink in the morning :)
    Glad you like the candle - I think all of us Indians love lamps and the lower maintenance the better :) AWESOME pancakes!! And it is a bonus that your little ones like it too :)

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  11. I have incorporated them into even idlis and dosas and my kids dont even know about it!
    these sweet potato pancakes are too good!
    Smitha
    Smitha's Spicy Flavors

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  12. Now this is something I can eat for breakfast everyday - Have never really cooked with flax seeds so thanks for the lovely idea :)
    US Masala

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  13. Wow! that looks very inviting and totally yum!

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  14. Extra ordinary post.lovely pan cakes.cute pictures.wowwwwwwwww.

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  15. Oh, what a delicious dish you created! I love flax seeds and I bet the pairing with sweet potatoes was amazing. That brown sugar and fruit on top is so mouthwatering. Great job! =)

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  16. wow lovely idea dear !! delicious pancakes !!

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  17. Pancakes look fab to me:) Wonderful pictures.

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  18. Delicious and healthy pancakes..Loved it.. Beautiful pics.

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  19. Looks so tempting..can we use mashed sweet potatoes directly?

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  20. Sure souwmya, Mash it well and mix it well.. will work fine.. the powdered form when mixed just resembles the real mashed version... so i guess you can go ahead. :D

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  21. Rachu, Pancakes looks so tempting. I want it now...:)

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  22. what a nice idea :) cooking with flax seeds...

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  23. its so wonderful to hear the chain is still continuing :)...
    nice recipe and pic looks yummy!!

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  24. Looks delicious and inviting. Hats off to you for your innovative recipes

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  25. First time here. Lovely pictures. Pancakes look yummy .. Happy to follow you :)

    Drop by my space when you get a chance. Hope you like it :)

    Vardhini
    Vardhiniskitchen

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  26. I've seen but never had flax seeds either... Your description of their taste - they sound so good. And the pan cakes look delicious.

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  27. I've never cooked or tasted flax seeds--now I'm intrigued to go find them. Those stacked pancakes looks ravishing!!

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Thanks for your comments.