Pancakes are part and parcel of every cuisine. Known by different names, made in different thicknesses and with different ingredients, each region has its signature style, but overall, there is one common feature of all Indian pancakes – they are handy snacks that can be had anytime of the day. They are not exclusively breakfast, dinner or supper recipes. You can just conjure up a pancake anytime you feel the need for a slightly filling snack.
While in continental cuisine, pancakes are made mainly with all-purpose flour (refined flour or maida) and served with honey, sauces or fruity toppings, in India we have a much larger variety. From chilas andpudlas to pankis and dosas, we have a really huge variety of eggless Indian pancake recipes made with different combinations of pulses, cereals, flours and veggies or greens too.
What is a pancake?
A pancake is basically made by spreading some batter on a griddle (tava) and cooking it till done, sometimes soft, sometimes crisp, sometimes a pleasant golden brown. The batter may be a quick-fix made by mixing together flours with milk, curd or water. Or, it could be made by grinding soaked cereals and pulses. Sometimes, the batter may require fermentation as in the case of dosas, but mostly you can cook the Indian pancakes immediately.
Some Indian pancakes like uttappa are thick and spongy while those like chilas are thinner.