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.
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’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
These pancakes look delicious! Absolutely delicious!
WritingMonique
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
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. 😉
Wow Shashi, these are some of the most delicious looking pancakes I’ve ever seen. Such a unique treat!
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!
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!
love learning about new dishes from other cultures. This looks so decadent and delicious!
Thanks so much Jessica!
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 🙂
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
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!
I can see why these were your favorite growing up! They look amazing!!
Thanks so much Ashley
Those pancakes look scrumptious! I love that coconut filling a lot.
Thanks so much Angie!
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” 🙂
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!