Buttermilk Pancakes

We used this recipe from Cook's Illustrated for the day after Christmas to use up the buttermilk. We did 3 batches for 8 people.

SERVES 3 TO 4 (ABOUT 8 3-INCH PANCAKES)

This batter serves four perfectly for a light weekday breakfast. You may want to double the recipe for weekend pancake making, when appetites are larger. If you happen to be using salted butter or buttermilk, you may want to cut back a bit on the salt. If you don’t have any buttermilk, mix three-quarters cup of room temperature milk with one tablespoon of lemon juice and let it stand for five minutes. Substitute this “clabbered milk” for the three-quarters cup of buttermilk and one-quarter cup of milk in this recipe. Since this milk mixture is not as thick as buttermilk, the batter and resulting pancakes will not be as thick.

INGREDIENTS

• 1cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2teaspoon table salt
• 1/2teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4cup buttermilk
• 1/4cup milk (plus an extra tablespoon or so if batter is too thick)
• 1large egg, separated
• 2tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Vegetable oil (for brushing griddle)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl. Pour buttermilk and milk into 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup. Whisk in egg white; mix yolk with melted butter, then stir into milk mixture. Dump wet ingredients into dry ingredients all at once; whisk until just mixed.
2. 2. Meanwhile, heat griddle or large skillet over strong medium-high heat. Brush griddle generously with oil. When water splashed on surface confidently sizzles, pour batter, about 1/4 cup at a time, onto griddle, making sure not to overcrowd. When pancake bottoms are brown and top surface starts to bubble, 2 to 3 minutes, flip cakes and cook until remaining side has browned, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Re-oil the skillet and repeat for the next batch of pancakes.