The recipes in the Real German Cuisine Challenge are from the German recipe book Die echte deutsche Küche and will be translated by me over the next couple of years.
Hollerküchle (Elder flower pancakes)
Fried Elder flowers
Ingredients for 6 portions:
- 200 g (7 oz) flour
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/4 liter milk
- 2 eggs, separated
- 2 T sugar
- 1 shot pale lager (helles Bier)
- Clarified butter for frying
- 12 freshly picked Elder flower umbels (Holunderblütendolden) (cut the stem a little under the flower clusters so that there is a piece of stem to hold)
- Powdered sugar for sprinkling
Preparation time: about 30 minutes
Per portion: 290 calories
Directions:
- Mix the flour with 1 pinch of salt and the milk until a smooth batter is formed. Add the 2 egg yolks, the sugar, and the beer and mix until well-incorporated. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks, then fold them into the batter.
- Melt a liberal amount of clarified butter in a heavy pot. To test the temperature, dip a wooden spoon into the hot fat. As soon as small bubbles form around the spoon, the fat is hot enough for frying.
- Pick up the elder flower umbels by the stem, and dip them in the batter. Immediately add them to the fat with the stem pointing up and cook, floating, for 2 minutes.
- Remove the flower umbels and drain well on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately, fresh and hot.
- Elder flowering time is only a couple days in May and June, when the umbels are covered in flowers. As soon as the flowers fall off when the umbels are picked or lightly touched, it’s already too late for Hollerküchle.
Want to read more about this recipe? Find out how the challenge went. Want more Real German Cuisine? Check out the full recipe list organized by German state. Do you have an alternative recipe for this dish or helpful hints? Please let us know in the comments!
