Beet Pancakes with Cherry Sauce

Not to worry, these swoon-worthy pancakes don’t taste beety despite including the root vegetable for its red touch. The batter can be prepared up to two days in advance and kept chilled in the refrigerator. But it’s best used at room temperature. Thin with additional milk or yogurt if the batter becomes too thick. Makes about 14 pancakes.

1 medium-sized beet, peeled and chopped 1 1/4 cups (310 mL) gluten-free oat flour 1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon, divided 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt 1 cup (250 mL) milk 1/2 cup (125 mL) plain yogurt 1 medium banana 1 large free-range egg 1/3 cup (80 mL) chopped walnuts (optional) 1 Tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter 2 cups (500 mL) frozen pitted cherries 3 Tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup 1 tsp (5 mL) lemon zest 1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) cornstarch, dissolved in 1 Tbsp (15 mL) water 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract

Place beet in steamer basket set over at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of water and steam until tender. Set aside to cool.

In large bowl, stir together oat flour, 3/4 tsp (4 mL) cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Place beet, milk, yogurt, and banana in blender container and blend until smooth. Blend in egg. Add beet mixture to dry ingredients and gently combine. Fold in walnuts if using. Let batter rest for 10 minutes.

Heat skillet over medium heat. Add butter to skillet and melt. Pour 1/4 cup (60 mL) batter for each pancake into pan and cook for 2 minutes, or until darkened around the edges and bubbles form on the surface. Flip and cook for 2 minutes more. Test a pancake to see if it has cooked through. If not, increase cooking time. Transfer cooked pancakes to baking sheet and keep warm in preheated 200 F (95 C) oven as you prepare remaining pancakes.

To make cherry sauce, bring cherries, maple syrup, lemon zest, remaining cinnamon, and 1/4 cup (60 mL) water to a simmer in medium-sized saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes and then gently mash cherries into a pulpy purée. Stir dissolved cornstarch and vanilla extract into cherry mixture and simmer for 2 minutes more, or until slightly thickened.

Serve pancakes topped with cherry sauce.

Serves 4.

Each serving contains: 402 calories; 14 g protein; 13 g total fat (3 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 60 g total carbohydrates (27 g sugars, 6 g fibre); 236 mg sodium

source: "A Red Inspired Menu", alive #388, February 2015