No one goes to the Costa Rica for the food.
I was warned that it is a country of plain food: meat, rice and beans. In my week there (the first half of spring break), I found this to be fairly true–when we weren’t eating Americanized burritos or (surprisingly good) pizza, the majority of our meals were platters composed of white rice, black beans, coleslaw or pickled vegetables, thick white cheese, slightly sour and tender golden fried plantains and perhaps grilled fish from sodas, or small cafeterias selling “typical” Costa Rican food.
But honestly? Plain doesn’t mean bad. After long days of hiking, surfing and beachgoing, I never once got sick of these bountiful platters, and thrived on the huge fried plantain boats filled with salty cheese that we found. (Though now I understand why you don’t find Costa Rican restaurants in the U.S.)
One of my classmates and travel companions for the week had been to Costa Rica twice before and mentioned that her last time in the country had brought an inordinate amount of banana pancakes into her life. I kept an eye out for pancakes the entire trip, but didn’t come across a place that offered them on the menu until we stumbled into an Americanized brunch spot during our last day in the Caribbean side. They were billed as “Caribbean pancakes,” but the stack I received was basically a couple of regular pancakes with a sprinkling of toasted coconut–a far cry from the messy, homey, banana-studded pancakes I had envisioned.
I realize trying to find my ideal pancake in Costa Rica seems silly, but the relevant point is that I got to eventually recreate my ideal pancake at home with the exact right amount of fluff, level of whole wheat heartiness and proportion of shredded coconut and gently crushed banana to bring back the sun-drenched, sandy days of vacation in the Caribbean.
CARIBBEAN PANCAKES
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 cup almond milk + 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 2 eggs separated
- 1/3-1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (to taste)
- 1/2-1 medium banana gently crushed or sliced (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare your wet ingredients by melting the butter and setting aside to cool; additionally, stir the apple cider vinegar into the almond milk and set aside to curdle.
- Whisk flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites with an electric beater until soft peaks form.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk the egg yolks into the almond milk mixture, then stir in melted, cooled butter. Gently stir the yolk mixture into the egg white mixture until just combined. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined (a few lumps are okay). Batter will be very thick. Fold in coconut and banana.
- Preheat a lightly greased skillet over medium heat. Once hot, cook the pancakes in 3-4 tablespoon increments for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through. Serve immediately.
Lilly Sue
Hi Erika! Glad you had fun in Costa Rica- I went a couple years ago and had a blast! Though I didn’t overeat beans, rice and plantains I had some delicious ones! I think I mainly had them homemade though so that may have helped me enjoy them oh so much 😀 the frieends that made dinner also did this amazing chicken with lots of spices- I wish I could replicate! we also had some amazing nachos (not typical American ones) at a small hole in the wall that I haven’t forgotten yet
erika
Ahh yum that sounds so delicious!!! I wish I could have gotten my hands on some more homemade food. I’ll have to seek out some nachos when I go back! (What were on them that made them not typical American?!)
laurasmess
WOW. I just looked at your plantain post and… ohmigosh I WANT. I’ve never eaten a plantain!!!! Nor have I been to Costa Rica! I do have bananas and salty cheese at home but… well, guessing it’s not the same. Never mind 😉 I adore the look of these gorgeous Caribbean pancakes. Coconut is definitely my jam, so I think I’ll have to make some over the Easter weekend! xx
Shikha @ Shikha la mode
I love plantains so I feel like I’d be right at home in CR!
Katrina
Oh man, I totally agree. Plain food is in no-way bad!! And to me, these pancakes definitely don’t sound plain 🙂 Love the coconut in there!
Akaleistar
I agree that plain doesn’t mean bad. Those pancakes look so good 🙂
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
I love “plain” food! And these pancakes look perfectly delicious!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
Who is too good for giant platters of rice beans and meat? Sign me up, costa rica. Love these pancakes Erika!!!
Tori
These look entirely fabulous! I love your fun spin on a classic pancake!
erika
Thank you so much Tori! <333