Sri Lankan Coconut Pancakes
These gluten-free Sri Lankan Coconut Pancakes are almost like a thicker crepe and are flavored with a hint of almond, vanilla and turmeric – and guess what – they would be perfect for your Saturday morning brunch!
Thanks to my parents, my young insides were not introduced to a burger or fries – even on busy nights! To be perfectly fair, burgers and fries were not traditional Sri Lankan eats 🙂 . The Sri Lankan eats my sister and I devoured happily when we were young, were actually veggie and spice heavy. Back then my mom would feed us homemade kiribath, or mung bean and coconut “salad,” or string hoppers, or a smorgasbord of veggie curries. However, from all the day-to-day Sri Lankan eats my mom made, my all time favorite were her coconut pancakes with a coconut and jaggery filling.
Jaggery is an unrefined and non-distilled sugar that is made from the sap of sucrose rich plants such as sugar cane and/or date palm trees. I first mentioned it here when I posted the recipe for my version of Sri Lankan Watalappan.
My mom would make delicate, turmeric spiced pancakes without any baking powder and she would stuff them with this almost un-earthly, soft and scrumptious, coconut, jaggery, cardamom and vanilla filling. My dad and I shared a wicked sweet tooth so we would compete to see who would end up with the last decadent pancake, but, my mom would always act as referee and get us to both slow down – with the race ending when my sister would appear from nowhere and grab that last pancake!
Today, I have my version of my mom’s baking powder free, Coconut Pancakes – but mine comes with a roasted Coconut and Jaggery topping and Coconut Whipped Cream. While my mom’s pancakes were thinner (like a crepe) – mine are a tad bit thicker – like a thicker crepe. Like her’s, my pancakes are also flavored with turmeric.; but, I also added a bit of almond and vanilla extract to mine. While, my mom’s traditional coconut and jaggery mix was soft – I toasted mine – to make it crunchy and offset the whipped cream topping.
While my mom’s stuffed pancakes were rolled and easy to engage in a pancake eating contest – my version isn’t quite so easy to do so with. But, mine are perfect for lounging around and lazily filling up on on a weekend morning!
This Recipe first appeared on Food Fanatic. Please check out Food Fanatic for more recipes and inspiration.
MMmm I love all things coconut and these pancakes are definitely not an exception- YUM! Your last picture is exceptional, Shashi! Reading this book definitely took me back to my trip to Sri Lanka last year- really loved it, especially the food!
Thanks so much Khushboo! I remember you mentioning your trip – It’s been so long since I went back there – but you are right – the food is AHMAZING!
What a decadent treat Shashi 🙂
Thanks so much Tandy
These pictures, and your mouth watering description are enough to make me want to book the first available flight over from here! 🙂
Haha – Thanks so much Neil! If you and Lynne ever come over, I would be honored to make y’all a stack of these! Hope y’all have a wonderful weekend!
These sound absolutely gorgeous! I’ve never had pancakes like this before but they look so much tastier than most pancakes I’ve had.
Thanks so much Corina!
I would’ve loved to have grown up in your household with all of those veggies! These turmeric-spiced pancakes look incredible -I can’t wait to try these!!!
Thanks so much Alanna! Yes – they were curried veggies so we didn’t even realize they were good for us as they tasted so darn good! 🙂
i love all things coconut so these pancakes are obviously on my list. i would love to try your moms cooking along with yours someday.
Thanks so much friend – you know you are welcome over anytime!
Very interesting spin on pancakes. These look incredible
Thanks so much Allie
What a lovely recipe! I know what you mean… we never ate at restaurants or fast food growing up. It was always fresh, home cooking from my mother. This coconut flour recipe is definitely a winner. 🙂
Thanks so much Ramona! I apologize for not reading your about page – but did you grow up in SL? I was there till I was 10 – then moved and only went back to visit once…one day I need to take my daughter there…
Dear Shashi, such an exotic and delightful twist on breakfast. I love the pinch of turmeric..these sound lovely dear. xo, Catherine
Thanks so much Catherine! xo
Wow these sound so interesting, especially jaggery. I’ve never heard of that (are you surprised?). These sound absolutely delicious!
Hey, I learned about tossing pumpkin with coconut oil and coconut sugar from YOU yesterday – guess we both introduced each other to something new -eh? 🙂
I don’t even know what to say, except Thank You!! These look absolutely incredible. I am not a huge fan of flaked coconut and yet I was so drawn to this recipe–it is the spiced cakes–love, love, love them!
Awww – you are so welcome Kristen – and thank you for such a sweet comment – made my day!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Oh my goodness, these pancakes look soooo good!
Thanks so much Marye
What a delicious weekend breakfast, Winona! I really need to find some of this jaggery that you mention…it sounds like a fun ingredient!
Oh heck! Winona moved away!
But I would gladly drone you some jaggery – oh wait – oh bugger – my drone is dead! 🙂
Seriously – jaggery is kinda like hardened molasses – I wanna say more “smokyish” than brown sugar – and not as sweet – some people say it’s an aquired taste – Lil Shashi won’t eat it plain – but my cousin and I can tear up a chunk of jaggery in 0-30 seconds!
These look so light, fluffy and delicious! <3 I neeeed to try em' out! :D!
Thanks so much Farrah! <3
Dear Shashi, never heard of jaggery. You always widen my horizons. These pancakes look decadent and delicious, perfect for a weekend brunch. Sounds like your sister swooped in and saved the day. (It worked for her anyway…hee hee.) Have a great couple days and then the WEEKEND!!! Enjoy. xo
Hahaha – yeah – it worked for her indeed!
Thanks bunches Allie! Now 1 more day and the weekend! Woohoo! Hope you and your family have a wonderful one! xo
Coconut is my FAV – wish I had a stack of these gorgeous pancakes right now!
Thanks so much Sharon
It’s a shame that I have never had a combo of coconut milk and jaggery before! But now I need to make these ASAp, because I am seriously drooling after seeing these. Have a great day! 🙂
Thanks so much Anu!
OOh – you’ve gotta try chilled coconut milk flavored with jaggery and vanilla – so so good!
Hope you have a great weekend!
It is such a great thing you were not introduced to burgers and fries at early age! Nothing against burgers, but there are so many other nutritious things kids can have! Need to try this sugar ! The pancakes look amazing!
Thanks so much Mira! It was very much a cultural thing – more than a health thing – though most of what my mom fed us, she would always profess with “eat this, it’s good for you” 🙂
Those pancakes look scrumptious! I love that coconut filling a lot.
Thanks so much Angie!
I can see why these were your favorite growing up! They look amazing!!
Thanks so much Ashley
These look so good!! The texture and color looks awesome. I like that they are spiced with turmeric too…so interesting.
Thanks so much Dani!
Those look so fun and Smooth, hahaha! I love the color 😛 Pancake joy!
“Pancake joy” – now those words are just meant to be together 🙂
Thanks so much Rebecca
I would re-make these and they would definitely NOT look the same. Mine would stick to the pan and turn into a scrambled MESS! Cause I am a graceful chef, yes indeed!
Haha – well, maybe you could hoodwink your way down South and get your sugar fix from some jaggery and coconut pancakes (which I will gladly fix for you) – and not some old lady’s PSL – just saying 🙂
love learning about new dishes from other cultures. This looks so decadent and delicious!
Thanks so much Jessica!
Crepes may very well be my favourite breakfast/brunch food of all time, and my mom would always make them for me for dinner when I was younger if I was being particularly picky and wouldn’t want to eat anything else. I’d always eat mine stuffed with cream cheese and jam, but I’m in love with the idea of a coconutty cream filling! These look fabulous, Shashi!
Hi Shashi! I love your Sri Lankan recipes. I have never heard of jaggery so I’m glad you explained what it is. I bet it adds a lovely crunch. Really intrigued about the turmeric in the pancakes, too. Gorgeous!
Wow Shashi, these are some of the most delicious looking pancakes I’ve ever seen. Such a unique treat!
I am pinning these!!! We get these little coconut-rice flour donut things from the Thai place in SD and I think this sounds similar, but in crepe form. Vegas is going to love you for this one. 😉
It sounds like your mother fed you really well. We also didn’t have takeaway and on nights when my mother didn’t have time to cook she would give us an ‘open sandwich’. One slice of black bread with some mayo on it then topped with whatever was in the vegetable crisper – that was our equivalent of takeaways! I love your Sri Lankan coconut pancakes with jaggery xx
These pancakes look delicious! Absolutely delicious!
WritingMonique
I’m exploring new recipes from around the world and planned to make Indian-styled pancake this week for dinner. I think I’ll also add this one to the list since I already have all the ingredients and spices! Pinned :S
LOVE these Shashi! We have a similar coconut crepe in India. And my mom makes these with a coconut, dry fruits and jaggery filling..wrapped up in banana leaves and steamed. Yours look so good.. Perfect breakfast on occasions I think
I love all the history behind these pancakes Shashi!! They sound amazing … love that hint of turmeric! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
These look incredible, Shashi! They look sturdy enough to fill, roll up and eat at finger food. YUM!
Wow!! These look delicious! And how nostalgic! I love how these remind you of your mum’s cooking! SO sweet 🙂
You know I’m a huge fan of all things coconut so these pancakes are obviously calling my name.
I need to try that jaggery asap…or is it jiggery? 😉
Gorgeous..I love this combo. its flavorful and so delicious.
Coconut flavor does magic in any dish these pancakes are one perfect example..looks pgreat
You were lucky to be fed so well as a child! These crepes are beautiful and I love that they’re made with tumeric. It’s such a healthy ingredient that’s hard to find in your typical “American” foods.
Your recipes are mouthwatering and insane! I really need to try them, I still have that dark chocolate dreams cast-iron one bookmarked. these pancakes look heavenly, love Sri Lankan food, we need more restaurants like that.
I am sure these tastes bombdiggity good. I’ve heard of something like this, nice to see it here. The turmeric is such a good addiction. They are really something I would love on a weekend.
yummy.