Nigellas Store Cupboard Pancakes Recipes

AMERICAN BREAKFAST PANCAKES

Steps:

• The easiest way to make these is to put all the ingredients into a blender and blitz. But if you do mix up the batter by hand in a bowl, make a well in the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, beat in the eggs, melted butter and milk, and transfer to a jug: it's much easier to pour the batter into the pan than to spoon it. Heat a smooth griddle or pan on the stove. When you cook the pancakes, all you need to remember is that when the upper side of the pancake is blistering and bubbling it's time to cook the second side, and this needs only about 1 minute, if that. I get about 16 silver-dollar-sized pancakes out of this.

PANTRY PAELLA

Steps:

• Put the saffron threads into a small pan over a medium heat with the sherry and warm them, not letting the liquid come to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
• Heat the oil in a wide, heavy based pan over low heat. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes.
• Add the sliced garlic and cook for a minute or so more. Stir in the rice, coat the grains in the oil, then add the prawns, baby squid, pork and peas. Mix to combine.
• Heat the chicken stock in a small pot over medium heat, or make up the concentrate or cubes with boiling water. Stir in the sherry and saffron mixture and combine well. Add the stock mixture to the rice and bring it to a bubble, then turn the heat down to a low simmer, but leave uncovered.
• Cook without stirring for 15 to 20 minutes, and by that time the rice should have absorbed the liquid and be tender. Gently stir with a fork to separate the grains, and check the seasoning, adding salt, if needed.
• Serve the paella edged with lemon wedges, and sprinkled with cilantro.

NIGELLA'S STORE CUPBOARD PANCAKES

Steps:

• For the dry pancake mix, place all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Transfer to an airtight container, seal and store until needed.
• To make the pancakes, add the appropriate quantity of egg, milk and melted butter per 150g/5¼oz of the dry mixture (a filled American cup measure will give you the requisite amount per batch, so you may like to use one and dispense with any weighing). Mix well to form a smooth batter.
• Heat a flat griddle or non-stick frying pan without adding oil.
• Spoon drops of 1½-2 tablespoons of the batter onto the hot griddle and when bubbles appear on the surface of the little pancakes, flip them over and cook until golden-brown on both sides. It should take about a minute per side.

POTATO CAKES WITH SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• In a batter jug, whisk the eggs, milk, finely sliced spring onions/scallions and olive oil together.
• Stir in the smash/potato flakes, flour and baking powder and then finally the lemon juice.
• Heat a flat griddle, and drop tablespoon sized dollops of the mixture onto the hot griddle.
• Cook for about 30 seconds a side or until golden brown and firm enough at the sides to flip.
• Once you have made the pancakes, and they've cooled a little, tear off tiny strips of smoked salmon and arrange the small slices on each pancake.
• Decorate each salmon topped pancake with a tiny feather of dill.

EVERYDAY PANCAKES

Steps:

• Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Beat eggs into 1 1/2 cups milk, then stir in 2 tablespoons melted cooled butter, if using it. Gently stir this mixture into dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour; don't worry about a few lumps. If batter seems thick, add a little more milk.
• Place a teaspoon or 2 of butter or oil on griddle or skillet. When butter foam subsides or oil shimmers, ladle batter onto griddle or skillet, making pancakes of any size you like. Adjust heat as necessary; usually, first batch will require higher heat than subsequent batches. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, after 2 to 4 minutes.
• Cook until second side is lightly browned. Serve, or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.

SWEETCORN PANCAKES

Steps:

• First turn the grill on high. If using fresh corn, remove the husk and slice the kernels from the cob with a large sharp knife, then cook them in a pan of boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and leave to cool while you whisk the eggs, milk and butter together. Whisk in the flour and a large pinch of salt until smooth, then mix in the corn (fresh or canned) and the spring onions.
• Put the tomatoes cut-side up on a large baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay the bacon next to the tomatoes in a single file on the tray. Grill for 8-10 minutes until the tomatoes have softened and the bacon is crispy, turning the rashers over at half time.
• While the bacon's crisping up, heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan. Add 4 large spoonfuls of the batter and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side until the pancakes are puffed up and golden. Lift out on to a plate lined with kitchen paper and cook the remaining 4 pancakes. Bring to the table with a bottle of chilli sauce.