Pancakes Can Be Higher In Fiber And Still Tasty With One Smart Add‑in

It wouldn't be a lazy Sunday morning without a stack of warm pancakes, drenched in maple syrup with a pat of melting butter on top. Whether you prefer them thick and fluffy or thin and delicate, they're the kind of breakfast food that hits the spot every single time. The only downside? Most pancakes aren't exactly nutritional powerhouses, especially when it comes to fiber. After all, traditional pancakes are usually made with white flour, which is low in fiber. But thankfully, there's an easy fix, and all it involves is poppy seeds in your pancake batter.

Seeds can really elevate a dish by introducing new flavors, textures, and even essential nutrients. When it comes to the latter, poppy seeds shine in the fiber department, with just 1 tablespoon containing 1.7 grams. Considering most people aren't getting enough of this nutrient, that is key for digestive health, adding poppy seeds to your pancakes can help you work towards the FDA's daily recommendation of 28 grams. Additionally, poppy seeds are rich in other beneficial minerals like manganese, which supports bone health, helps to prevent blood clotting, and aids your body in processing amino acids, fats, and carbs. They're also high in copper, which is needed to make connective tissue and transport iron.

To reap these nutritional benefits, start with our easy pancake recipe and incorporate the poppy seeds into the dry ingredient mixture. A couple of tablespoons is a good starting point, but feel free to add more if you want more texture and flavor.

The great thing about pancakes is that they're kind of a blank canvas, and you can always keep things interesting by adding in different ingredients. This versatility extends to poppy seed pancakes as well, since the seeds bring a subtle crunch and slightly nutty flavor that won't overpower other ingredients.

The most popular poppy seed pairing is citrus, and adding lemon, lime, or orange zest to your batter will bring a tangy brightness that complements the poppy seeds' soft nuttiness. Berries are another great match, either alone or alongside some citrus. You can fold fresh berries into the batter, top your pancakes with some berry compote, or dress them with fresh berries and whipped cream. But if you want something even sweeter that will still work with the poppy seeds' nutty flavor, chocolate chips may be the way to go. You could even try incorporating some warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for a cozy sweetness that's perfect for cold weather, which will work especially well with some applesauce mixed into the batter.

Not only that, but poppy seed pancakes can also be savory. Try adding some sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, lemon zest, and crumbled feta into the batter for a little Mediterranean flair. Or, you could stir in some chopped olives or smashed roasted garlic, both of which would pair nicely with a slather of compound butter. With poppy seed pancakes, the possibilities are almost endless.