When Virginia Lensi first moved to the U.S. from Milan, she fell exhausting for one factor of American tradition: brunch. “It was my first time realizing that individuals right here even have pancakes on Sunday,” says the American Ballet Theatre corps dancer. “I had brunch as soon as, and I beloved it. I at all times wished to maintain pancakes as a practice on Sundays with my pals or my boyfriend.”
However for Lensi, who’s allergic to dairy, eggs, nuts, and kiwifruit, it wasn’t as straightforward as going to a restaurant or following an ordinary recipe. “I made a decision I wanted to determine my very own recipe,” she says. With the assistance of her mother, tuning in from Milan through FaceTime, Lensi experimented with coconut flour and brown rice flour earlier than selecting oat. She additionally realized that chia seeds can act like an egg substitute, binding the batter collectively. “There have been quite a lot of trials and errors, however I discovered that it’s doable to make pancakes when you have quite a lot of meals allergic reactions, otherwise you simply wish to keep away from eggs or dairy,” says Lensi.
The Pleasure of Cooking
Residing with extreme allergic reactions whereas managing ABT’s grueling rehearsal and touring schedule hasn’t at all times been straightforward for Lensi. Consuming out or counting on ready meals isn’t an choice. “Once I was youthful, I at all times felt like cooking was a chore as a result of I’ve to do it actually daily,” she says, including that even on tour, she cooks her personal meals; the corporate travels with a microwave for her to make use of. However just lately, because of cooking collectively along with her boyfriend, ABT dancer Andrii Ishchuk, and experimenting with recipes she finds on Instagram and YouTube, she’s realized to relish her time within the kitchen. And when that’s not sufficient? “I wish to put a TV present on, and that makes it extra pleasing,” says Lensi. “I like any comedy present. Proper now, I’m rewatching ‘Ugly Betty.’ ”
Knives Out
The one kitchen software that Lensi can’t reside with out is sharp knives. “I like having good knives,” she says. “As a result of my arms are usually not super-strong, if I’ve a nasty knife I actually should push too exhausting. I’m actually choosy about that.”
Components
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1 cup oat milk
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus further for greasing the pan
- 2 tbsps cane sugar (“I personally just like the style of cane sugar,” says Lensi. “It has extra of a taste, and rising up I at all times used it.”)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (“I exploit the model Get pleasure from Life, as a result of it’s freed from 14 widespread allergens,” says Lensi.)
Toppings - berries
- maple syrup
Directions
- In a big mixing bowl, mix oat flour, oat milk, olive oil, cane sugar, chia seeds, and chocolate chips. Combine till the batter is clean. If it feels too thick, you may add a bit extra oat milk as wanted.
- Set a nonstick pan over medium warmth. Pour some olive oil onto a paper towel and use it to grease the pan. (Lensi stresses the significance of this step: “Should you don’t use the paper towel, the oil goes across the pancake as a substitute of beneath, and the pancakes stick with the pan.”)
- Utilizing a soup spoon or ladle, spoon small quantities of the batter into the ready pan to create particular person pancakes. Enable them to prepare dinner till small bubbles kind on the floor, then fastidiously flip them with a spatula.
- Prime the pancakes with a beneficiant serving of recent berries, and drizzle with maple syrup. Serve heat, and revel in!
