I had been craving a steak and cheese sandwich all day, and could not wait to get home to prepare one for dinner. Once home, I realized that there was not even one slice of bread in the house, but I was still determined to make this work, because I just could not hold out until tomorrow to satisfy this craving.
I had recently come across a recipe for a popover pancake on an adorable little blog called Tongue In Cheek, and I had made a mental note to give this recipe a try. I loved the idea of this recipe because you could create a quick dessert that was comforting and delicious. The blog showed how to make the sweet version, but I wanted to see if this would also work for a savory version. The huge well that forms in the center of the pancake as it is baking would be perfect to fill with just about any delicious savory ingredient that you could think of.
But could this simple popover pancake really save the day?
The recipe was easy enough, so I whipped it up the batter and heated up the oven. I added some butter into the dish and placed it into the oven. Once it was melted, I pulled out the dish and poured in half the batter, then put it right back into the oven. This is really the key, make sure not to put too much batter in the dish or it will be fairly thick at the base. While the popover pancake was in the over, I threw together the ingredients for the filling. For me it was caramelized onions, mushroom, shaved steak and cheese.
I cannot tell you how good this was – I made it 3 days in a row…
The popover pancake will rise up along the edges and create a hollow cavity in the center. Once it has risen and become a lovely golden brown, you will remove it from the oven and will see it starting to deflate, so make sure that your savory filling has already been prepared and set aside, and waiting to be quickly added to the emerging pancake.
Traditionally this is eaten with some fresh lemon juice and powdered sugar, or you can add a warm fruit compote and custard. The possibilities are endless and always delicious.
Steak & Cheese Popover Pancake (enough for 2)
½ cup flour
½ cup milk
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the flour into a medium sized bowl along with the salt and set aside. Place the eggs into another bowl and whisk together with the milk then pour this into the flour whisking until the flour is well incorporated without any lumps.
Add the butter to a large cast iron skillet (or pyrex dish like I did) and place in the oven until the butter has melted and is sizzling.
Remove the skillet from the oven and pour in the batter and return to the oven. It will take about 20-25 minutes for this to cook through, so in the meantime, begin to cook the filling.
Crispy Fried Onion Strings
1 small onion
1/2 cup self rising flour
Peel onion and cut in half lengthwise, then slice into thin pieces. Place the flour in a bowl and add the onions. Toss each piece well in the flour. If you do not have self rising flour, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder to the flour before tossing the onions. Heat your oil on medium high heat, and once it is up to temperature, add the onion strings and fry until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a paper lined plate and add a little salt. Set aside to add to the filling once you are ready to serve.
Steak & Cheese Filling
1 large onion, finely sliced
S&P
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
¼ – ½ cup olive oil
8 ounces fresh shaved meat
1 small pint of sliced mushrooms
½ to 1 cup shredded cheese of your choice
Add the oil to a sauté pan and heat well. Add the sliced onion and cook until they are caramelized, then remove them to a plate. Repeat the same procedure with the mushrooms. Once they are cooked through, add them to the onions that you have reserved on the plate. Repeat again with the shaved meat. Before you begin sautéing something, add a little olive oil to the pan. Just use as much or as little as you need. Once the meat has cooked, add the onions and the mushrooms back into the skillet and season well with the S&P and the granulated garlic. Add the cheese to the top of the filling and cover until it melts. Remove the pancake from the oven and add the filling and top with the crispy fried onion strings. Pour a nice cold beverage and enjoy.
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