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Serves
6-8 depending on serving size
Author Notes
This is a thin yeast pancake made with semolina and I gave it a Middle Eastern or Northern African Flare by filling with a spicy merguez filling. You can make these the size of a crepe or make them appetizer size. It's great finger food presented as an appetizer or a delicious quick meal. The pancakes can also be served as a breakfast with some butter and honey or maple syrup. The pancake recipe is adapted from Food and Wine Magazine, Paula Wolfert. She uses water I used ricotta whey, the whey adds a delicious tang to the batter. I served with some greek yogurt mixed with fresh chopped mint. —sdebrango
Ingredients
- Pancakes
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3 cups
warm ricotta whey or water or low fat milk
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2 teaspoons
baking powder
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1 teaspoon
instant yeast
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1 3/4 cups
semolina
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1/3 cup
all purpose flour
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1 teaspoon
honey
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1 teaspoon
salt
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olive oil for cooking
- Merguez Filling
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1 pound
Merguez (spicy lamb sausage) either loose or in links, if using links cut into small pieces
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1
small eggplant peeled and diced
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1
small onion chopped
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1/2- 1 teaspoons
harissa paste
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1
14.5 oz can fire roasted crushed tomatoes (I used muir glen)
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squeeze of fresh lemon
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salt and pepper to taste
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small handful flat leaf parsley chopped
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1 cup
greek yogurt (full fat is recommended but lowfat or fat free is fine)
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2 tablespoons
fresh mint finely chopped
Directions
- Pancakes
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n a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the warm whey or water with the baking powder. In a food processor, combine the semolina with the flour, yeast, honey and the remaining 2 3/4 cups of warm water; process for 30 seconds, until smooth. Add the salt and baking powder mixture and process for 30 seconds longer. Pour the batter into a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. I made this in the morning and let it rise for an hour then refrigerated until ready to make. Be sure to let it come to room temperature before making the pancakes.
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Heat a crepe pan or skillet coated with olive oil until its hot, a drop of water should dance on the surface. Ladle some of the batter, it's fairly thin, into the pan and quickly spread so it makes a thin layer. Let it cook until bubbles appear then flip and brown on the other side. Keep in the oven on warm until ready to serve.
- Merguez Filling
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Make the yogurt and mint first and refrigerate, simply mix the plain yogurt with the mint, cover and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
In a skillet heated with some olive oil add the onion and cook just until it starts to turn soft, add the eggplant and saute until both are lightly browned, add the merguez and cook with the onions and eggplant until its browned. If there is a lot of oil drain some out before adding the harissa and tomatoes. Add the harissa and stir to combine, now add the tomatoes and half can (use the can the tomatoes were in) of water (7 oz). Cook on medium heat until its thick, and reduced by half (about 20-30 minutes. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and the chopped parsley. You judge how much harissa to use, it depends how spicy you like it and how spicy your merguez is.
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To serve: spoon some of the filling in a warm pancake, top with the yogurt and mint.
I have loved to cook for as long as I can remember, am self taught learning as I go. I come from a large Italian family and food was at the center of almost every gathering. My grandfather made his own wine and I remember the barrels of wine in the cellar of my grandfathers home, I watched my mother and aunts making homemade pasta and remember how wonderful it was to sit down to a truly amazing dinner. Cooking for me is a way to express myself its my creative outlet. I enjoy making all types of food but especially enjoy baking,
I live in Brooklyn, NY, and I share my home with my two dogs Izzy and Nando.
I like to collect cookbooks and scour magazines and newspapers for recipes. I hope one day to organize them.
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