Lemon Buttermilk Ricotta Cheese Pancakes with fresh berries and sweet lemon sauce
Steps:
- This was the winning recipe in the BedandBreakfast.com Pancakes with Personality Contest!
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
2 T. granular sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs separated
2 T. vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 T. lemon zest
2 cups of assorted fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cut strawberries) use any or just one type of berry
- Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks, oil, buttermilk, ricotta cheese, orange juice and lemon extract. Whisk together until smooth.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Mix together until flour is just incorporated. Sprinkle top of batter with lemon zest.
In a small stainless steel bowl, beat egg whites just until stiff. Fold the egg whites into the batter just until incorporated. Let set for 10 to 15 minutes.
While batter is setting up, make your lemon sauce. - Sweetened Lemon Sauce
1 cup granular sugar
1/2 cup salted sweet cream butter
1/4 cup water
1 large egg yolk
1 T. lemon zest
3 T. fresh lemon juice
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sized stainless steel sauce pan stirring constantly until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved on medium heat. Bring sauce to a boil, uncovered, and lower the temperature for one to two minutes. Remove from heat and let set, keeping warm until ready to serve.
- Butter large skillet and warm on medium to low flame or low heat. When butter begins to bubble, carefully drop batter on hot skillet, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup per pancake. Let the pancakes rise on the pan slightly, then place assorted berries on top of each pancake pressing slightly into the batter. Once bottoms begin to brown, turn pancakes over to finish cooking just until lightly browned. Place finished pancakes on a large platter and top each with sweet cream butter, powdered sugar and pour warmed lemon sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh strawberries or berries of choice or lemon wedges.
Makes approximately 15 pancakes.