RICOTTA PANCAKES

If you haven’t added ricotta to your pancake game-you’re truly missing out. I know, I know. Cheese in a pancake sounds awful. But stay with me. Ricotta transforms pancakes into airy, creamy, custardy delights. Once you taste these luscious ricotta pancakes, you’ll be making them non-stop.

WHY WOULD I ADD RICOTTA TO A PANCAKE?

Why? Not to steal Loreal’s thunder, but- because you’re worth it. That’s precisely why you need ricotta in your pancakes. It’s still a pancake… just better. And you always deserve better. Plus ricotta doesn’t necessarily add flavor as much as it does mouth feel. It doesn’t taste cheesy, and it’s not ooey-gooey. Instead, these pancakes taste creamy, and the crumb is so moist it’s almost custard-like. The whipped egg whites lend airiness. You almost don’t need syrup. Almost. I can’t stop myself from dropping loads of blueberry sauce on each one.

DO I HAVE TO WHIP EGG WHITES?

Yes, you’re going to have to whip egg whites. IT’S WORTH IT. These are birthday-breakfast-in-bed-tell-me-you-love-me pancakes. This is the recipe you use to impress your future mother-in-law. The one you trot out for that special brunch attended by the frenemy you imaginary fight with when you’re stopped at a red light. (Don’t act. We all have at least one.)

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS YOU CAN ADD TO RICOTTA PANCAKE BATTER

In the case that you want to take this batter to the next level (I’m talking a Princess Jasmine A Whole New World MOMENT) try adding these little nuggets of goodness:

• A 1/2 tablespoon of lemon or orange zest
• A 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips
• A 1/4 cup of chopped dried apricots
• A 1/4 cup of your favorite berry
• A 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts

CAN I MAKE RICOTTA PANCAKE BATTER AHEAD OF TIME?

I wish. Because it has whipped egg whites, this batter is more fragile than a Hollywood ego. (Don’t come at me if you live in LA. You know exactly what I’m talking about.) The fluffiness of those whipped whites doesn’t last forever. So as soon as you make the batter, you should cook it. The best you can do to save time is to mise everything out. (That’s just chef speak for measuring out all of your ingredients and having everything ready to go.) You can pre-mix the dry ingredients, of course. But you’ll have to make the batter the day of.

HOW TO STORE, THAW, AND REHEAT RICOTTA PANCAKES.

I doubt you’ll have leftover pancakes. But in case you do: refrigerate in an air-tight container with parchment paper between each layer for up to four days. Do the same if you’re going to freeze them, where they will keep for a couple of months. To reheat, you can just put them in the microwave and cook in 30-second increments until they start to steam. I prefer to warm them in an oven at 350°F. Add a cup of water to an oven-safe container and place it in your oven before you start preheating. It will keep the pancakes from drying out.