Tomorrow, the UK will celebrate the Pancake Day. Observed annually on Shrove Tuesday – the last Tuesday before the start of Lent – is many people’s favourite non-standard holiday of the year. I have previously posted great recipes for sweet pancakes, like these fluffy high protein mini pancakes or the delicious Polish crepe envelopes with quark cheese filling. This year, I decided to take a turn into the savoury direction. On the eve of Pancake Day, I’m bringing you a recipe for a giant savoury pancake. Made with cottage cheese for a good source of protein, and filled with whatever veggies I found in the fridge. It’s a simple, delicious and nutritious meal – perfect for those who want to join in the celebrations of Pancake Day but don’t have a sweet tooth.

Ingredients for a giant savoury cottage cheese protein pancake

For one giant savoury cottage cheese pancake you will need:

• 200g low fat cottage cheese
• 2 eggs
• 45g wholemeal plain flour
• 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
• salt, pepper, garlic powder, mixed herbs
• oil for frying – I typically use low-fat oil spray

Plus, some toppings. I used:

• a few slices of ham (30g)
• a piece of red bell pepper (16g)
• frozen green peas (30g)
• half of a tiny onion (25g)
• a few spinach leaves
• a few cherry tomatoes
• one Babybel light (snack-sized piece of cheese, 20g)

How to make a giant savoury cottage cheese pancake

Crack the eggs into a bowl. Add cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, and the seasoning. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients into a smooth batter. Set it aside.

Finely dice the onion. Chop up the ham, bell pepper and cheese into smaller pieces.

Pre-heat a large pan sprayed with oil on low-medium heat. Pour the batter into the pan and sprinkle ham, onion, bell pepper and green peas on the top. I don’t defrost the peas beforehand.

Cover the pan with a lid. Make sure to keep the heat quite low. We’re not going to flip this pancake, so we need to make sure the top gets cooked – the lid will help keep hot air in the pan. We don’t want the bottom of the pancake to get burnt in the process. Don’t take the lid off too often, to avoid the hot air escaping. It should take around 7-10 minutes to cook the pancake on low heat.

Once cooked, add a few halved cherry tomatoes and some spinach leaves, and sprinkle the pancake with pieces of cheese. Cover the pan again and cook everything for another couple of minutes. The spinach should wilt, and the cheese should melt. And the high protein pancake will be ready to eat!

Nutritional value of a savoury cottage cheese protein pancake

The giant savoury pancake has approximately 525 kcal, 16 grams of fat, 49 grams of carbs, 8 grams of fibre, and 55 grams of protein. It makes a perfectly balanced meal!

What is cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is a fresh, soft cheese made by curdling milk and draining off most of the whey. With most of the fat is removed in the process, cottage cheese is naturally low in fat and calories, and high in protein. It became incredibly popular in ‘fit’ recipes in recent years, but where I’m from, cottage cheese has been a staple for many years.

Why is protein important in our diets

Protein is essential because it provides the building blocks your body needs to build and repair muscles, organs, skin and hormones. It also helps keep you full and satisfied, supports immune function, and plays a role in nearly every process that keeps your body running.

Bon Appetit!

So there you have it – a savoury recipe idea, perfect for Pancake Day, but also any other day. Nutritious, filled with fibre and protein, and a great way to use up some leftover veggies from your fridge. And if you prefer sweet pancakes, that’s fine too! Scroll down for more recipe inspiration. I love pancakes and crepes in all shapes and forms.

Also see:

• Food
• Savoury