535.Buckwheat savoury pancakes/uttapams

Starting a healthy year
The Bread Bakers theme for January is Ancient Grains hosted by Robin Beck of A Shaggy Dough Story. I’ll be honest, had a slight idea about ancient grains but never actually paid much attention to it. I have used some of them not knowing that they are classed as ancient grains. My research began on the internet as to what really are ancient grains(heritage grains). All the grains we know are somewhat ancient as they have existed for years. However ancient grains are ones that have not changed over the last hundred years i.e have not been hybridized. They have not been modified over the years.Ancient grains have more robust texture thriving without much pesticides and fertilizers.Some of the most common ancient grains are quinoa, millet, spelt, teff, sorghum, farro(emmer), kamut(khorasan), chia, freekeh,amaranth, buckwheat,barley, wild rice. I realised that the Indian cuisine uses quite a few of these ancient grains and these days traditional recipes are modified to include buckwheat, quinoa, chia etc. There are people in remote villages that still make rotis using kamut or rather khorasan wheat.
I decided to use buckwheat. Buckwheat is not actually a grain but is a pseudo cereal.Its not wheat or related to wheat. It is the fruit seed of the plant. Its related to the rhubarb or sorrel plant. This makes it ideal to use during fastings such as Ekadashi. Buckwheat flour has a nutty, earthy taste. Its used to make soba noodles, pancakes, galettes(crepes), blinis etc. Rich in protein and minerals like manganese,copper, magnesium, phosphorus, rich in fiber, helps to control blood sugar, gluten free, buckwheat is considered ‘superfood’.
Known as kuttu ka atta in hindi, kutto in gujarati or papparai in tamil, its used for making dosas, rotis, and the groat is used for making khichdi. I decided to make buckwheat savoury pancakes or uttapams to serve on Ekadashi day. The flour appears grey as the seeds are harvested when they turn black. Some soak the groat overnight and then grind it to make the pancake mixture. I prefer to use the flour as its much quicker.
BUCKWHEAT SAVOURY PANCAKES (UTTAPAMS)
Makes 12-14 mini ones
1 cup buckwheat flour (kutu ka atta)
½ cup peeled and grated bottle gourd (doodhi/lauki) or zucchini
½ cup peeled and grated carrot
¼ cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
2 tbsp fresh grated coconut
1-2 green chillis, chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1-1¼ tsp salt
1¼ cup water
¼-½ tsp coarse pepper powder
a pinch of soda bi carbonate (baking soda)
2-3 tbsp oil
- Mix grated bottle gourd, carrot, coriander, coconut, ginger paste, chopped chillis in a big bowl.
- In another bowl mix buckwheat flour, salt, pepper and baking soda.
- Add flour to the vegetables.
- Add water and mix well. The batter should not be too runny or too thick.
- Heat a frying pan over medium heat.
- Add a few drops of oil and let it become a bit hot.
- Add about 2 tbsp of the batter.
- Lower the heat and cook the pancake (uttapam) on one side.
- Flip it over. Add a few drops of oil and cook the pancake till done.
- Repeat steps 6-9 with the remaining batter.
- Serve the pancakes with chutney, pickle, yogurt or a fresh salad.
- Use zucchini instead of bottle gourd.
- Add other vegetables of your choice.
- Can add ½ part buckwheat flour and ½ part rice flour to make it more palatable for kids.
- If you make the pancakes on a fasting day, avoid adding baking soda.
- Ancient 4 Grain Breakfast Bread from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Ancient Grain Carrot Bread from The Schizo Chef
- Barley Flour Donuts from I Camp in my Kitchen
- Blueberry Peach Quinoa Oatmeal Muffins from Magnolia Days
- Buckwheat Savoury Pancakes from Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Dimbleby’s Breastfeeding Bread from Food Lust People Love
- Eggless Sorghum and Pearl Millet Banana Muffins (Eggless Jowar and Bajra Banana Muffins) from G’Gina’s Kitchenette
- Garlic Cheesy Einkorn Crackers from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Injera Bread from Spiceroots
- Jolada Rotti (Sorghum FlatBread) from Ruchik Randhap
- Kamut Bread from La Cocina de Aisha
- Little Millet Banana Bread from Sara’s Tasty Buds
- Millet Idli from Gayathri’s Cook Spot
- Multigrain Seeded Loaf from What Smells So Good?
- Pumpkin Quinoa Flatbreads from Sizzling Tastebuds
- Quinoa Banana Bread from Wholistic Woman
- Seeded Spelt Boules from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Spelt and Buckwheat Soda Bread from A Shaggy Dough Story
- Spelt and Einkorn Sourdough with Caramelized Onions from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Spelt Bread from Hostess at Heart
- Spelt Sweet Potato Paratha from Cook’s Hideout
- Teff Crepes with Spinach and Mushrooms from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Yeasted Jowar Naan from Sneha’s Recipe
#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page.
We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.
30 Comments
Robin @ A Shaggy Dough Story
January 12, 2016 at 10:58 am
These look great, Mayuri. I've made buckwheat blini before but I love the addition of the coconut and veg in your pancakes. Thanks for sharing and I hope you enjoyed the ancient grains theme.
Sowmia pragash
January 12, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Savory pancakes, very new to me. Gonna try for today's dinner.
beena stephen
January 12, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Looks very yummy and healthy
Mayuri Patel
January 12, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Thank you Robin,loved the theme though I didn't have a choice of ancient grains where I live. However,I knew it would have to be an Indian preparation with what little is available in Mombasa.
Mayuri Patel
January 12, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Do let me know if your enjoyed them, Sowmia.
Mayuri Patel
January 12, 2016 at 5:10 pm
Thanks Beena, do try out the recipe. Its really healthy and light on the stomach.
Wendy Klik
January 12, 2016 at 5:27 pm
These look very tasty but I really enjoyed the cultural lesson included. I love learning of other cultures through food. I think it is the original universal language.
Julie
January 13, 2016 at 12:29 am
How creative and delicious. Buckwheat is one of the ingredients that I would like to use but haven't yet.
Susan Pridmore
January 13, 2016 at 1:12 am
These look wonderful! I've made buckwheat crepes and loved the flavor, so I know I'd love these!
Pavani N
January 13, 2016 at 2:21 am
Love the idea of making oothappams with buckwheat flour. They are so much more nutritious than the regular ones. Good choice Mayuri.
Karen Kerr
January 13, 2016 at 3:14 am
Those are really interesting and I love your explanation of buckwheat as well as your cultural story! I love savory too. =)
Georgina Kurian
January 13, 2016 at 7:49 am
Really lovely Mayuri. Savoury and unique. I had a similar idea with my choice of flours but thought Id try the same next time.
Ansh
January 13, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Amazing Idea. I always make only dosa or flat bread, but this is beyond yummy!! Going to make this soon.
Stacy Rushton
January 13, 2016 at 4:33 pm
I love your uttapam pan, Mayuri! Not that I need another pan, but I bet I can find one here in Dubai. 🙂 And then I can try your recipe the right way!
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:04 pm
Thank you Wendy. Its so true that besides music, food is a universal language.I too have and still am learning a lot about other cultures through blogging. Ekadashi is a fasting for the Hindus that comes every 15 days. During that time we are not allowed to eat any grains, cereals etc.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:06 pm
Thank you Julie.The first time I had buckwheat crepes was in Chevreuse, France. Loved and since then have been using it but with an indian taste whenever I get buckwheat flour here.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Thanks Susan, am sure you will love the savoury pancakes as it gives you the frredom to add veggies of your choice and its super healthy.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Thanks Pavani, try them out, they do taste different. I didn't add onion as I made it for Ekadashi, but you can add whatever you like.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:10 pm
Thank you Karen. Buckwheat is one of my favourite new ingredient besides quinoa. Love it.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:11 pm
Thank you Georgina.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:13 pm
Thanks Ansh. My next on the list is crepes(dosa) with buckwheat.The pancakes is a healthy meal when accompanied with salad.
Mayuri Patel
January 14, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Thank you Stacy, I got the pan from India. However, you really don't need a special pan to make the uttapam. Its like making pancakes on a normal pan as the batter will not spread out too much. I made mini ones but normal uttapams served in restaurants are the size of a roti or paratha.
Nayna Kanabar
January 14, 2016 at 9:20 pm
These pancakes are really healthy and delicious I make buckwheat theplas, they taste great.
Dannii Martin
January 15, 2016 at 4:11 pm
I never think to have savoury pancakes, but these do look very tempting.
Mayuri Patel
January 15, 2016 at 6:01 pm
Thanks Nayna. Buckwheat theplas sounds great. Will try them out.
Mayuri Patel
January 15, 2016 at 6:03 pm
Danii savoury pancakes make a great meal option,healthy and filling along with some salad. Try them. I've also make chickpea flour savoury pancakes.
http://mayurisjikoni.blogspot.co.ke/2015/07/515-chickpea-flour-savoury-pancake.html
Chef Mireille
January 16, 2016 at 7:02 pm
so healthy and flavorful
sneha datar
January 17, 2016 at 1:13 pm
Yours look lovely… fresh uttapams for breakfast… divine.
Serviced Apartments London Lady
January 19, 2016 at 4:43 pm
These look delicious, a great twist on traditional pancakes!
vimalalakshmi
January 23, 2016 at 3:11 am
Healthy and delicious uttappams dr…….