Remember how every trip to Trader Joe’s I buy something I’ve never bought before? Well, this time it was coconut flour! I know, I know. I’m late to the party (as usual), but better late than never right? I had *almost* bought coconut flour several times before but always stopped short because it was a little pricey at ~$7 per pound. Imagine my delight when I saw Trader Joe’s had theirs for $2.99 per pound! They also have some of the lowest prices I’ve seen on almond meal and cashew meal too. I love a good deal =). Because much as I love trying new things, it’s (sometimes) hard to justify the cost of an ingredient that I’m not sure if I’ll like or not.
Since I was a coconut flour newbie, I started by doing some research. Coconut flour is made from the dried meat of the coconut. It’s use seems to be on the rise, especially in gluten-free and paleo recipes. It can’t be substituted 1:1 for wheat flour because it is much more absorbent, so I started looking for an “established” recipe to kick off my coconut flour foray. Being the pancake fanatic that I am, I should have just stopped looking after I spotted the first pancake recipe because I couldn’t get pancakes out of my head. I could make (insert at least 50 different recipes)….or I could make pancakes ;).
When I first opened the coconut flour bag, I was hit with the slightly sweet – and fairly strong – coconut smell. It was glorious. I knew we’d be fast friends ;). These pancakes had an incredibly unique flavor (that I loved) and are super healthy, especially as far as pancakes are concerned. A generous serving will only set you back 130 calories and with only 14 grams of carbohydrates, you’ll avoid that post-carb insulin spike. The 12 grams of protein will help keep you full longer too! It’s win-win. Pancakes were definitely a good place to start my coconut flour adventures. Go to Trader Joe’s and pick up some coconut flour today because you definitely want to give these pancakes a try! Enjoy!
Coconut Flour Pancakes {Grain-free, Gluten-free}
2 egg whites
2 tbsp coconut flour
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
1. Whisk ingredients together in small bowl. Preheat nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat.
2. Drop batter onto preheated skillet. Cook until lots of bubbles form and edges are slightly dry. Flip and cook over side, about a minute or until lightly brown. Serves 1.
Nutritional Info: 130 calories; 2.7 g fat; 14.2 g carbohydrates; 6.5 g fiber; 12.4 g protein.
