American Style Pancakes

Ingredients to make 8

• 500g

  Sausagemeat
• 450g

  Self-raising flour
• 1 tsp

  Baking powder
• 600ml

  Buttermilk
• 3

  Large eggs, separated
• 50g

  Butter, melted, plus extra for frying
• -

  Good pinch of salt
• To Serve

• -

  Maple syrup
• -

  Bacon rashers, fried or grilled
• -

  Banana pieces (optional)

Approximate Times

• Preparation :

  Less than 30 minutes
• Cooking :

  10 to 30 minutes

Method

1. Put the sausagemeat in a large frying pan and break it up using a wooden spatula or spoon. Fry the meat, stirring regularly and continuing to break it up, until well browned and cooked through. If a lot of fat has rendered out, turn out onto a piece of kitchen paper, otherwise leave in the frying pan, off the heat, until you need it.
2. Put the flour in a large bowl with the baking powder and add a pinch of salt. Mix to combine and remove any lumps then make a well in the middle and set aside. Combine the egg yolks, melted butter and buttermilk. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed.
3. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour and whisk until well combined. Add a large spoonful of the egg whites and fold in using a large metal spoon. Stir in the rest of the egg whites, trying to preserve as much of the air in the whites as possible. You should have a fluffy, bubbly batter.
4. Heat a frying pan (preferably around 20cm) to a medium heat and rub over a little butter. Pour 1½ ladlefuls of the batter into the frying pan – it should spread out to around 20cm in diameter. Take a couple of tablespoons of the sausage mixture and sprinkle over the pancake. The pancake will rise up around the sausage meat as it cooks. When the pancake has browned on the bottom and is firm enough to flip, turn it over quickly and cook for another minute on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the batter and the sausage meat. Serve with maple syrup and bacon.