So, I have finally had time to do some cooking…not cooking for large groups, but just fun cooking! I am still on my experiment with oats and make everything possible in a healthy oaty way kick. A few days ago, I found a beautiful, perfectly ripe pineapple at Fruit and Veg (my favorite place to shop in SA) and I got to thinking that it would be delicious if I caramelized it and put it in a pancake…so, that is exactly what I did- a pineapple upside down pancake! They were a big hit with Gavin and Zach, and although they are slightly more labor intensive than Bisquick pancakes, they are totally worth it…and about 100 times healthier. You get the whole grains and fiber from the oats, protein from the egg whites and greek yogurt, and a little splash of satisfying decadence from the gooey caramelized pineapple. What more could you want at breakfast time?
Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes
makes 12 pancakes
Batter
2 Cups oat flour (whole oats ground in the blender)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 egg whites
1/2 C 0% fat plain greek yogurt
2 heaping T brown sugar
1 Cup water
To make the pancake batter, mix oat flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Next, add egg whites, greek yogurt and brown sugar and mix with a fork. Then, add the water and mix well until everything is incorporated.
Caramelized Pineapple
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/3 Cup water
1/8 t salt
12 thin slices of pineapple
For the pineapple: in a medium pan over medium heat, mix water and brown sugar together and bring to a simmer. Next, add the pineapple…just a few pieces at a time…and cook for 1 minute on each side (until it is brown and caramelized). After each piece is cooked, set it aside. **SAVE YOUR REMAINING LIQUID AFTER THE PINEAPPLE IS COOKED!!
To prepare the pancakes, heat a pan or griddle to medium heat and spray with non-stick spray. Spoon batter into the pan (I like to make the pancakes just slightly larger than the pineapple). Allow the pancake to cook for about 1 1/2 minutes and then gently place the pineapple ring into the center of the pancake. Allow to cook for another 30 seconds and then gently flip the pancake. Allow this side to cook for 2 minutes and then gently remove the cooked pancake and flip so that the pineapple side is up on the plate. Drizzle with a bit of the left over pineapple cooking liquid before serving!
