Japanese Souffle Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ TBSP whole milk (22 g)
- ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ C cake flour (30-34 g)
- ½ tsp baking powder (2 g)
- 2 TBSP sugar (25 g)
- 1 TBSP neutral flavor oil (vegetable, canola, etc) (for greasing the pan)
- 2 TBSP water (for steaming)
Directions
Gather all the ingredients. You will also need a 12-inch non-stick frying pan (large enough to cook 3 pancakes at the same time) with a lid.
- Separate egg whites and egg yolks into two different bowls. Put the bowl with egg whites in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- In the meantime, add milk and vanilla to the egg yolks and whisk until thick and frothy.
- Sift the cake flour and baking powder into the bowl.
- Whisk to combine thoroughly (but do not over-mix). Set aside.
- After 15 minutes, take out the bowl with egg whites from the freezer. The egg whites should be half frozen. Now start beating egg whites.
- When the egg whites turn frothy and pale white, gradually add in sugar (roughly 1/3 at a time). Continue to whip the egg whites.
- The egg whites will become glossier and firmer. Stop beating when you lift up the hand mixer and the egg whites stand right up with stiff peaks slightly bending over.
- Heat the large non-stick frying pan to 300F (150C) over the lowest heat. Brush with cooking oil and lightly remove any visible oil (otherwise the pancakes will have spotty pattern). Keep the heat on while you combine egg whites and egg yolk mixture.
- Take 1/3 of egg whites and add into the egg yolk mixture. Whisk together (do not worry too much about breaking air bubbles at this step).
- Next, take half of the egg whites and add to the egg yolk mixture. Using a whisk, gently fold in without breaking the air bubbles in the egg whites.
- Now transfer the egg yolk mixture into egg whites. Carefully fold in two mixtures together without breaking the air bubbles. Make sure to gently mix the batter thoroughly!
- Remember each pancake gets roughly 4 scoops of batter, so that is a total of 12 scoops for 3 pancakes. Now, scoop the batter and place on the frying pan. My recommendation is to use a small ladle (or a serving spoon that is bigger than regular spoon - probably 2-3 Tbsp) and make a tall pancake. Next, stack one more scoop to the first pancake. Then move on to the next two pancakes giving each 2 small scoops.
- By the time all 3 pancakes have 2 scoops, the surface of batter is slightly dry already, so you can stack one more scoop on top, keeping it up high. In the bowl, you should still have roughly 3 scoops left.
- Set timer for 6-7 minutes, add 1 Tbsp water in 3 empty spaces inside the pan and cover with the lid. Water keeps the pancake moist.
- After 2 minutes passed, open the lid, and add one more scoop for each pancake (or more scoops if you have more batter). Make sure to stack high, not wide. If the water has evaporated, add a little bit more. Cover with lid and cook.
- Ater 6-7 minutes passed, using the offset spatula, lift the pancake VERY GENTLY. If you feel the pancake is stuck, do not touch until they firm up a little. If you force it, the pancake will crack in the middle. When the pancake is ready, you can easily move the pancake.
- Add water in empty spaces and set timer for 4 to 5 minutes to cook the other side on the lowest heat.
- Enjoy!