Fluffy Japanese Soufflé Pancakes in a Skillet

Name: Fluffy Japanese Soufflé Pancakes in a Skillet
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Japanese cuisine
Ingredients: Eggs 2 (separate the whites from the yolks); Milk 1 cup (250 ml); Wheat flour 1 cup (130 g); Butter 1 tbsp; Salt, vanilla, sugar, baking powder to taste; Powdered sugar, fruit and berries, mint for serving

I was a little surprised the first time I tried Japanese pancakes made like a soufflé. What's unusual is that these pancakes, sometimes wrongly called Japanese cheesecakes, are cooked in a skillet or on a griddle. Pastry rings are used to hold their shape. Japanese pancakes are made fairly thick and served several at a time, stacked on top of each other like syrniki.

They come out very soft and airy, which is why they're sometimes called soufflé pancakes, a name that captures this dessert perfectly. They're usually served with whipped cream, fresh berries and a sprig of mint. You'll often see a scoop of green matcha ice cream on the plate. It's certainly a dish worthy of a fancy table, but it's also a great way to lift your mood first thing in the morning.

Japanese pancakes are made from the most ordinary ingredients: eggs, milk, flour, sugar and various flavorings. The ingredients are roughly like the batter for the thin crêpes we make for Maslenitsa. But thanks to the beaten egg whites folded into the batter, they come out incredibly airy and tender. The main difference is in the technique.

Cooking these pancakes well and without trouble takes a little practice. The famous saying usually holds: the first pancake is always a flop. But the second pancake, or the third at most, comes out perfect. It's important to beat the egg whites properly for an airy batter. To keep Japanese pancakes tender, they're baked or fried over low heat, so they take noticeably longer to cook.

Since these pancakes are several centimeters thick, it's important not to rush the heat, or you'll end up with an overcooked outside and a raw middle.

Fresh pancakes are perfect for a weekend breakfast. Any fridge usually has milk and eggs, and there's sugar and butter. And in the morning there's time to cook, especially if you don't have to go to work. You'll also need pastry rings 5-7 cm in diameter and a large flat-bottomed skillet with a lid. And for flipping the pancakes, a wide spatula is handiest.

Ingredients

2 servings

Eggs 2 (separate the whites from the yolks)
Milk 1 cup (250 ml)
Wheat flour 1 cup (130 g)
Butter 1 tbsp
Salt, vanilla, sugar, baking powder to taste
Powdered sugar, fruit and berries, mint for serving

Step-by-step recipe

Making the batter doesn't take long. Sift 1 cup (130 g) of wheat flour ahead of time. You won't need all of it; go by how it looks. Get ready 2 heaping tbsp sugar, half a packet of baking powder, vanilla (natural or extract), a small knob of butter and ordinary low-fat milk (250 ml).
Carefully separate the egg whites from the yolks into different cups. Put the whites in the cold; they whip better that way.
Mix 2 tbsp flour with 0.5 tsp baking powder. By the way, the baking powder should be fresh, or it may lose its power. Add the yolks and sugar, then mix.
Pour in room-temperature milk. You can mix with a mixer, just don't overdo it. The goal is not a whipped batter, but simply a thin batter that's as smooth as possible. Important: the sugar must dissolve. The batter should be about the consistency of fritter batter. Add a little flour if needed.
At the same time, beat the egg whites. Ideally, both the whites and the mixer bowl should be cold. If you can, set the mixer bowl in ice or very cold water. Beat the whites to the stiffest peaks you can, as for meringue. Test: turn the bowl upside down, and the whites should stay put.
From here on, you won't need the mixer. Take a wooden or silicone spatula; they're handy for folding. Gently fold the beaten whites into the batter. Adding the foam in portions, slowly fold the batter with the spatula until the whites are completely incorporated.
Heat a large flat-bottomed skillet over low heat. There are two ways of frying that give excellent pancakes. The first is to fry them in a covered skillet with a little water added. I did it differently: the pancakes cooked in a buttered skillet over the lowest heat, covered.
When the skillet is hot, place 3-4 pastry rings of the right size on the bottom. Lightly butter the insides of the rings. With a ladle or cup, pour the batter into the rings, about two-thirds full. Keep in mind that Japanese pancakes puff up and grow as they cook. Ideally, the batter should rise to the top of the ring.
Cook the pancakes over the lowest heat with the skillet covered. You need steady, even heat. It's important that conditions inside the skillet stay constant. Cook the pancakes for about 8-10 minutes.
When you can see the top starting to set and the batter has risen to the rim, flip the rings so the pancakes cook on the other side. A kitchen spatula or wide thin turner is handy for this. The bottom will be golden brown, like most things made from batter.
Move the cooked pancakes, rings and all, to a board and let them cool. Like anything made from airy batter, Japanese pancakes will sink a little, but they'll come out of the rings easily. If you have trouble getting them out, help with a thin knife. Usually it's no problem.
Cook all the pancakes and let them cool. They should be warm, not hot. If they came out big, you can serve them one at a time. The dish needs no garnish. Just dust them with a little powdered sugar and add fresh berries: raspberries, blueberries, maybe cherries and cranberries.
Small pancakes are usually served 2-3 at a time, stacked on top of each other. If you like, drizzle them with honey or condensed milk. Maple syrup works well too, as with milk pancakes. It's delicious with thinly sliced banana or persimmon wedges, depending on the season. Add a sprig of mint for decoration.
Serve this dessert with tea or warm milk. Make these pancakes once and add a scoop of Japanese matcha ice cream: it's an amazing combination of flavors. And one more thing: serve the dessert on a large flat plate so the pancakes, fruit and berries, and especially the ice cream, sit separately.