I’m honestly not a huge bread person, but I bake a loaf of whole wheat sourdough for my husband most weeks, and I inevitably end up with extra starter from my sourdough feedings. I think pancakes are the traditional use, and they are indeed great! I tend to make waffles or crepes in bulk batches to freeze. Great for those mornings when my husband is in a rush and needs his hearty morning fix.
Sometimes we go crazy and dab them with kimchi or crème fraîche or homemade maple rye vinegar or all three for a feast of ferments!
I like to let my starter accumulate in the fridge for a while before making a big batch, but beware, this aging process makes for a seriously sour waffle. This recipe doubles beautifully and freezes like what Eggo dreams it could someday be. It’s suitable for savory or sweet toppings, too!
Recipe (Adapted from the Cardamom Sour-Cream Waffles in Gourmet, February 2008):
1 cup whole wheat flour
1.5t baking powder
3/4t baking soda
2t ground cardamom (if fresh ground, use 1.5t)
1/2t salt
1T sugar (optional)
1 cup extra starter
1T vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk (preferably whole)
3/4 cup kefir or 1 cup crème fraîche or kefir sour cream
3 eggs, lightly whisked
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Combine first 6 (dry) ingredients.
- Combine the remaining (wet) ingredients in separate bowl
- Add dry ingredients to wet, being careful not to over mix
- Batter should be pretty thick. If it’s so thick that it’s more like dough, add a tablespoon or two more milk.
- Waffle it, according to your waffle maker instructions!
If eating right away, top with delicious things. If freezing, let them cool, then separate waffles with wax or parchment paper and freeze in ziplocs. A quick trip to the toaster oven does these guys good!