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Corn, Cheese & Spinach Pancakes

As well as plenty of flavoursome cheese, there's chilli heat, sweetcorn, plus spinach for vibrant colour in these easy, fluffy pancakes. Top a stack with melting cheese and a tasty Spiced Chilli Butter inspired by Tex-Mex flavours for a special weekend breakfast, brunch or even an easy dinner alongside a salad.

It's recommended that you read the accompanying blog post before beginning the recipe.

Cuisine American, Mexican inspired, World
Keyword easy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 16 pancakes (approx.)
Author Moorlands Eater

Ingredients

  • 200 g self-raising flour (or plain flour + 2 level tsp baking powder)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tsp mild chilli powder/red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 250 ml milk
  • 1 egg
  • 100 g spinach (fresh or defrosted frozen)
  • 100 g mature Cheddar cheese (grated)
  • 30 g Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
  • 160 g sweetcorn (fresh, tinned or defrosted frozen)

For cooking the pancakes

  • 10 g butter
  • 1 tsp oil

To serve

  • grated cheese
  • 1 batch Spiced Chilli Butter (see Recipe Notes)

Instructions

  1. Sift the flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda, chilli powder or red pepper flakes, and black pepper into a mixing bowl.

  2. Put the milk, egg, and spinach in a blender (squeeze defrosted spinach to remove excess water first) and whizz until combined.

  3. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, pour in the contents of the blender, and stir to combine.

  4. Fold in the cheeses and sweetcorn.

  5. Put the butter and oil for cooking the pancakes in microwave safe container and ping for a few seconds to melt the butter (or use a small saucepan on top of the stove).

    Heat either a griddle or large frying pan to medium hot.

  6. Brush the griddle or pan with a light coating of the butter and oil: it will sizzle immediately if hot enough.

    Add 1 tablespoon of batter per pancake, as many as will fit without crowding. If liked, gently nudge into a neater circle.

    Cook until a few bubbles appear around the edges of each pancake and the underside is golden brown (approx. 2½ minutes: cook another 30 seconds if necessary) then turn over and cook the other side until golden brown and puffed up (2 - 2½ min).

    Tip: if the pancake isn't ready to turn after 3 minutes, you may need to increase the heat a little.

    Wrap the cooked pancakes in a clean tea towel to keep warm while you use up the rest of the batter to make more, lightly greasing the griddle or pan each time.

  7. Serve warm, stacked and topped with extra cheese and pats of Spiced Chilli Butter. Tip: ping the stack with the cheese and butter in the microwave for a few seconds to melt them.

    Can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days or frozen.

    Reheat in a microwave to retain the fluffy texture, adding the extra cheese and spiced butter for the final few seconds.

Recipe Notes

Quick and easy Spiced Chilli Butter is perfect with these pancakes, but it has loads of other uses too. Try it on steak, baked potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, steamed veg, or in garlic bread.