I know, I know. At this stage, EVERYONE knows about the magic two ingredient "guilt free" pancake. It's been on every blog under the sun. Every celeb showing off their healthy eating to the world has mentioned them. They're old news, just like yesterday's kale chips.
But, what sort of healthy eating blog would I have here if I didn't include them?
Besides. I liked how the photos turned out.
For those of you who have been in a third world country with no internet, these "magical" pancakes are as simple as making a batter from a single mashed banana and two eggs. No magic here other than the binding property of egg. But in any case, these are a good substitute for anyone who loves their pancakes. I'll admit, they taste great. Better than great.
My trainer says they're particularly good after a work out. Protein after gym is always good, and the sugar in the bananas help with your glucose levels.
Note I said sugar. Yes. Bananas have sugar in them (Yeah yeah, fructose is not "sugar" sugar, yet it is when you're tracking calories!) So no. You cannot eat a massive pile of them and walk away scot free. The "guilt free" label being put on everything relatively healthy these days is really pissing me off. It's so misleading for those who don't know a lot about food and nutrition. Yes, these contain "clean" ingredients. Yes, they're a good source of protein and fibre. Yes, they're better than the alternative. But no, not guilt free if you eat stacks of them loaded with sugar and syrup and chocolate sauce and Nutella and whatever else people like to add to their pancakes.
Sorry. Let me not get into that right now, this is a post about pancakes, and pancakes are lovely and stuff. So. Like. No negativity in this pancake bubble.
As simple as these banana pancakes are, I have made a very minor tweak, because that's just who I am. I've added a bit of vanilla and a pinch of salt. Why? I think they need it. The vanilla (actually guilt free) adds a little something extra to the flavour, as vanilla always does. The salt enhances the flavour of the banana, but at the same time, tames the sickly sweetness that comes from very ripe bananas. Basically, these two minor additions add a little more depth to the flavours of this very simple dish. Trust me on this!
Some people like to make their pancakes quite large, but I actually prefer them smaller, that way you get a good stack of them so psychologically it helps with feeling like it's a bigger meal than it actually is. I also sprinkle my pancakes with a bit of ground cinnamon. Banana and cinnamon are a match made in (more guilt free) heaven, and cinnamon's said to be good for regulating your blood sugar levels.
Now, if you've got the space in your macros and you're not avoiding any sugars and you want a REAL treat, drizzle your stack of pancakes with a tablespoon or two of real maple syrup or honey (Paleos rejoice!). I'm telling you, diet conscious or not, these are just damned delicious!
I know I went on a bit of a tangent there, but really, these pancakes are great. They'll help satisfy a craving for something sweet and you don't have to feel bad about enjoying them. In moderation. Without other crap on top. *cough* (Sorry. Can't seem to help myself!) They're really easy to make, and, perfect for using up old bananas. So go forth and enjoy your stack!
Banana Pancakes
Makes +- 8 small pancakes or +-4 large ones
Approx 245 cal
Macros Approx: 23g Carbs | 10g Fat | 13g Protein
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Very Ripe Banana |
| 2 | Large Eggs |
| Seeds from 1/8 Vanilla Pod | |
| Pinch | Sea Salt Flakes |
Method:
- Place banana in a shallow bowl and mash well with a fork
- Add the eggs, vanilla seeds and salt and beat until well mixed
- Alternatively: Use a food processor or stick blender to mix all ingredients until smooth
- Heat a large non-stick pan on medium high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and slowly drop spoonfuls of mixture into the pan, depending on the size of your pan, about 3 or 4 at a time
- Tip: You can add a small amount of coconut oil to the pan to help the pancakes not stick if using an older pan, but then don't forget to account for it!
- Cook for about 2-3mins until edges are set and the top is starting to set as well, then flip pancakes over and cook for further 1min
- Remove from pan and cook the remaining batter the same way
- Enjoy while still warm with a sprinkling of cinnamon, and if you're feeling like you need a little more, a drizzle of honey or real maple syrup
Yes, these would be classified as being Paleo.
Calories & Macros are rough estimates using MyFitnessPal, these numbers may vary depending on ingredient brands etc.
I am not a professional dietitian or in any way an expert on diet and health nutrition, these recipes are suited to my own personal eating plan and may or may not fit in with your own personal eating plan.
Please check with your own personal trainer / coach / doctor / dietitian / etc. to see if these recipes are suitable to you.
