Baghrir

MEGA BLOGGING MARATHON – APRIL 2018
#87TH BLOGGING MARATHON
THEME: EXPLORE THE FLAVORS – INTERNATIONAL BREAKFAST
DAY 2

“Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dine like a Pauper”

Before I venture into today’s recipe, I would like to show off a bit of the azure blue skies and sea that lines the east coast of Africa. We in Mombasa are so lucky to have the beautiful Indian Ocean. Hubby and I spent the Easter holiday at the Bamburi Beach and every day it was a delight to walk on the beach. Though at time of the year the beach is strewn with seaweeds, believe me when I tell you that its a sign of a healthy sea eco system. When the tides is out, little puddles of water is where one can find sea cucumber, sea urchins, star fish and beware of the occasional porcupine fish and the numerous tiny blue jelly fish. Its a delight to watch people playing football on the beach, children building sand castles or digging holes so that they can ‘bury’ their siblings, friends or cousins, people enjoying a picnic, lovers finding the right nook to sit, people from the cold countries desperately trying to get the perfect suntan, novice swimmers in the sea, jet skis, banana boat rides and so much more.  Sometimes I wish holidays would last forever!

Bamburi Beach during low tide

I must admit I didn’t get the thousand holes on my pancakes when I made them for the first time. I almost thought of choosing another breakfast dish but the niggling feeling as to why I didn’t get the holes kept on bothering me. I think I was in too much of a hurry to allow the batter to ferment properly. I tried the recipe again with a few changes and this time letting the batter ferment to nice frothy bubbles consistency. And hey presto, the thousand holes pancakes were ready to be devoured by hubby, me and my neighbors. Light on the stomach and so different from the normal pancakes. I loved the way the holes soaked up the honey butter making the pancakes succulent.

1. Add semolina, flour, salt, sugar, yeast and warm water into a blender. Process it till everything is mixed and there are no lumps. Alternately use a hand blender.
2. Add the baking powder and process for a few seconds.
3. Remove the batter into a bowl. Cover it with cling film or lid and allow it to ferment till its frothy and nearly double in size. Mine took 1 hour in spite of the really hot weather.
4. Stir it very gently.
5. Heat a frying pan or skillet over medium heat till its really hot.
6. Pour about a ¼ cup batter into the pan. If you’re using a small pancake or uttapam like me than you add a tablespoonful of the batter.
7. Immediately bubbles should appear. Lower the heat and the top will begin to dry.
8. Never flip a baghrir over.
9. Serve immediately with honey butter syrup, jam, honey, or chocolate sauce.