CURRIED MINCE PANCAKES
Served with vetkoek, pancakes or even in jaffles, this curry brings back memories of my childhood!
Makes 12 pancakes • Preparation: 40 minutes • Cooking time: 30 minutes
• 30ml olive oil
• 1 white onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped (optional)
• 600g lean mince
• 10ml mild curry powder
• 5ml turmeric
• 3ml ground cumin
• 4 cardamom seeds, crushed
• 5ml chutney (or to taste)
• 5ml apricot jam (or to taste)
• 5ml fresh lemon juice (or to taste) PANCAKES
• 2 eggs
• 250ml flour
• 300ml milk
• 80ml vegetable oil
• 5ml brandy
1 First mix the pancake batter by beating all the ingredients together and then pour through a sieve. If time allows, rest in the fridge for about half an hour.
2 Meanwhile, heat the oil and sauté the onions until glossy. Add the garlic and 125ml boiling water and cook until the pan is dry (this is my way of getting the onions melt-in-the-mouth soft). Once the pan is dry, add the mince and fry until golden-brown; break up any lumps continuously with a spatula.
3 Stir in the spices and season to taste with salt and pepper, followed by the chutney and jam, and fry for a few more minutes. Stir in 125ml boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes until almost dry again.
4 Taste the mixture and add your personal touch with a little more jam or spices. Finally, add the lemon juice and remove from the heat.
5 To make the pancakes, heat a thin pan, about 20cm in diameter, and spray well with non-stick cooking spray or grease with a little oil. Spoon just enough batter into the pan to coat the bottom; tilt and turn the pan so that the batter spreads evenly over the bottom and put the pan back on the heat. Cook for a minute or so until the batter starts to bubble and pulls away from the edge. Flip the pancake and cook for another 30 seconds. Turn out and repeat with the rest of the batter.
6 Divide the mince between the pancakes and roll them up. Serve hot.
TIP Serve the pancakes with tomato and onion sambal and a dollop of yoghurt.
Fresh coriander is an optional extra. If you want to stretch the mince, stir in a tin of lentils when you add the spices and maybe add an extra spoonful of curry powder.