AMERICAN PANCAKES NIGELLA RECIPES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar into a large bowl. In a separate bowl or jug, lightly whisk together the milk and egg, then whisk in the melted butter.
• Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and, using a fork, beat until you have a smooth batter. Any lumps will soon disappear with a little mixing. Let the batter stand for a few minutes.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a knob of butter. When it's melted, add a ladle of batter (or two if your frying pan is big enough to cook two pancakes at the same time). It will seem very thick but this is how it should be. Wait until the top of the pancake begins to bubble, then turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown and the pancake has risen to about 1cm/½in thick.
• Repeat until all the batter is used up. You can keep the pancakes warm in a low oven, but they taste best fresh out the pan.
• Serve with lashings of real maple syrup and extra butter, if you like.

Steps:

• In a bowl, marinate the fish in 1/4 tsp turmeric and a good pinch of salt, tossing to coat, then set aside. Using a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar, grind the mustard seeds to a fine powder. Put the tomato, garlic, 2 or 3 green chillies, the powdered mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp turmeric, a pinch of salt and 150ml water in the small bowl of a food processor and blitz to a smooth paste.
• Heat 3 tbsp of the mustard oil in a medium-sized non-stick pan until smoking, then take off the heat and wait for 30 secs. Add the nigella seeds to the pan and allow to sizzle for 10 secs, then add the paste. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the excess liquid has evaporated and the paste releases its oil. Lower the heat and continue cooking for another 4 mins or so, until it darkens a little. Add 400ml water and the remaining chillies, bring to a boil and simmer for 7-8 mins until it has a medium consistency, not too watery. Check the seasoning and keep on a low heat while you fry the fish.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan until smoking. Add the fish and fry on all sides for around 6 mins until golden brown. Add the fish to the mustard sauce, bring back to the boil and cook for 2 mins. Sprinkle on the coriander leaves and serve with rice, if you like.