Pancakes are that delicious sweet that is perfect for breakfast, a snack or to enjoy as a dessert. The traditional recipe is very simple, made with wheat flour, eggs, sugar and milk. Of course, there is a wide variety of versions aimed at improving them, giving them a special touch or making them healthier. A version that succeeds are the fluffiest and thickest pancakes and that is precisely how Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr. prepares them.
In October of last year, the Formula 1 social media profiles shared an interview with the Spanish driver where he claimed to have a “very good pancake recipe”, then proceeded to tell how he made them. Now, Carlos Sainz has shared the procedure on his TikTok profile, revealing the secret to making them especially fluffy. Although he does not detail the quantities, these can be deduced from the video itself and vary some components such as the amount of sugar and honey, to the consumer's taste.
Using as a basis the audio of the interview broadcast last October on the Formula 1 networks, the Scuderia Ferrari driver has demonstrated how he prepares his famous pancakes. His trick to make them especially fluffy is to add egg whites whipped until stiff.
To begin, separate the whites and yolks of four eggs and whip the whites until stiff, with the help of a whisk. You will know they are ready when you can turn the container upside down without spilling its contents. Or, as Sainz explains, when they are spongy.
In a separate container, add one and a half cups of flour (about 250 grams), the yolks of the four eggs and two cups of milk (about 300 milliliters). Also, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and two tablespoons of sugar. One tip from the pilot is to add a spoonful of honey, “to give it more flavor.” Mix all this until it reaches a uniform consistency.
Next, it's time to add the egg whites, or "the fluffy thing," as Sainz calls them. Do it with the help of a tongue and in enveloping movements. “Be careful when you mix it, because you don't want the fluffy stuff to turn into non-spongy stuff,” the pilot advises.
When all the mixture is well integrated, pour a ladle into a pan previously greased with butter. What Carlos Sainz does is make them small in diameter, but tall, so that they are fluffier. When bubbles begin to appear in the dough, you can turn them over, even encouraging yourself to do so by turning the pan as the pilot does.
As for their accompaniment, although it is common to eat them with honey, syrup, cream, chocolate or fruit, Carlos Sainz admits that he prefers to eat them alone because “I love the flavor of the dough,” he says.
