Quinoa Pancakes with Honey

I have to admit, I am not the biggest pancake fan.

I know there are pancake "purists" out there scoffing at me right now, but I prefer a breakfast of "bacon and eggs" (for those who know me well, you may quote me).

But, upon a visit to True Food Kitchen in Newport Beach, CA, the simple pancake was transformed into "Quinoa Johnny Cakes" - a heavenly mound of essentially pancakes, mixed with quinoa, and topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt and drizzled with honey.

Untraditional Deliciousness. And good for you too. Quinoa is considered a superfood because it contains more protein than any other grain.

These are not your standard pancakes. These are over-the-top-filled-with-goodness-that-even-a-picky-eater-who-likes-pancakes-would-scream-WOW. The addition of quinoa is a different twist, but the quinoa adds a lot of moisture and texture, making these pancakes one of a kind.

I set out to recreate them for a Sunday Brunch, and they were scarfed down in seconds. What is great too with this recipe is you can make the batter the night before - leave it covered in the fridge and you have one easy and yummy breakfast waiting for you the next day.

Ingredients: (yields about 20 4"-5" round pancakes)


1 1/2 C flour
3 tbsp sugar
6 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 3/4 C milk
3 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 1/2 C cooked quinoa
(cooking spray for pan)

cooked quinoa

Begin by mixing the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a bowl to combine ingredients. In another bowl, whisk together milk, canola oil, vanilla, and eggs and add to dry ingredients. Whisk well together so there are no lumps.

Add quinoa to pancake batter and whisk to combine thoroughly.

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium heat and coat with some cooking spray to prevent sticking. Begin by pouring desired amount of batter into the pan, allow bubbles to form around the edges of pancakes, the "tell-tale" sign that they are ready to flip.

And serve. I love these fluffy pancakes with butter and a little clover honey instead of traditional syrup.

Of course, for Sunday Brunch, a little "bubbly" must be poured. These pancakes are so satisfying. The quinoa adds so much flavor and texture you may never go back to plain pancakes. Since quinoa is slightly nutty, the addition of honey in place of syrup is a great flavor combo. Cheers and enjoy.