Banana Quinoa Pancakes – Family Meal Friday

Banana pancakes are one of my favorite ways to use up bananas that have ripened. This recipe is full of healthy ingredients such as bananas, eggs, AND features a superfood: quinoa! 

They are naturally sweet from the bananas which balances well with the other ingredients to create a delicious and classic pancake. When you add in some chocolate chips to the batter, they become ooey gooey after cooking, making a delicious chocolatey banana pancake!

The pancake batter quickly comes together by blending all the ingredients together in a food processor or blender. See direction below for making these pancakes without a blender. 

This recipe makes about 10 medium sized pancakes which should serve 4 people. The pancakes are thin and soft, almost having a crepe-like texture. When cooked in butter they have a crispy edge which contrasts with the texture of the interior. 

Load these pancakes up with toppings after cooking or enjoy them plain, they’re delicious either way! A little maple syrup adds a lot of flavor to these pancakes, but is not necessary since the pancakes are already sweet from the bananas. 

I love these pancakes with chocolate chips inside and topped with some more sliced bananas, crushed walnuts, and a little syrup!

Family Meal Friday Prayer

Try this meal on a friday or over the weekend with your family or friends! Gather to share in thanksgiving for the Lord’s provision throughout the week over a home cooked meal with loved ones!

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for each and every blessing you have granted us this week. We thank you for your presence each and every moment of the day and that we get to be filled with Your Spirit because of Jesus. That is so cool that each of us can have the Holy Spirit within us! Thank you for the opportunity to gather and enjoy this meal together. We ask that you may bless this food so it may bring nourishment to our bodies. Thank you for always providing and blessing us abundantly! We love you so much and praise you, in Jesus name, Amen!”

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Bananas: provides potassium, antioxidants, and natural sweetness to the pancakes in addition to other vitamins and minerals. 

• Almond milk: provides moisture to the pancakes and healthy fats. Substitute any milk of your choice. Use organic or non-GMO if possible.

• Vanilla extract: provides additional vanilla flavor to the recipe and enhances the other flavors. 

• Apple cider vinegar: used to create a reaction with the baking powder. It also provides a multitude of health benefits. 

• Eggs: provide protein and healthy fats to the pancakes.

• Quinoa: an ancient grain known as a superfood. Iit provides a multitude of health benefits such as protein, fiber, amino acids, healthy fats, folate, magnesium, and many other vitamins and minerals. 

• All purpose flour: this provides carbohydrates and helps create a soft texture for the pancakes. Use organic or non-GMO if possible.

• Baking powder: helps develop the texture of the pancakes making them more fluffy.

• Add-ins: cinnamon, adds flavor to the pancakes; chocolate chips, I like to use dark chocolate chips in this recipe. This balances out with the sweetness of the pancakes and makes them more customizable. 

• Toppings: sliced bananas, other fruits, crushed nuts, syrup or honey. These are all optional but add to the flavor and presentation of the pancakes. I like to top them with crushed walnuts as they provide healthy fats, protein, fiber, and omega-3s among many other health benefits.

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Blender or food processor
• Frying pan
• Spatula
• Stove

How to make: step-by-step

Add all of your ingredients to a blender (bananas, almond milk, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, eggs, quinoa, ap flour, baking powder, and cinnamon). Blend on high for about 1 minute or until all of the you can’t see any quinoa pieces and you have reached a smooth and slightly watery texture. 

Heat a frying pan to medium heat and place about 1 tsp butter in the center. 

Once the pan is hot and the butter has melted, pout about ½ cup of the pancake batter into the center of the pan. Allow it to cook for about 4 minutes (or until there are bubbles and the top of the pancake is not super wet). Flip the pancake and allow it to cook for another 4 minutes on the other side. 

You should be able to fit about 2 medium pancakes in the pan at a time or you could make smaller pancakes and fit more. 

 If you would like to add chocolate chips, sprinkle some onto while it is cooking immediately after you have poured the batter in the pan. Then use a spoon or your spatula to push them into the center of the pancake so they are covered in batter. 

Serve the pancakes with some more banana slices, crushed nuts, syrup or whatever you would like and enjoy!

For Making Without a Blender

First, mash the bananas in a bowl until it is a pretty consistent and smooth texture. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything is well combined. Cook according to the directions above. 

You may need to cook the pancakes a little longer on each side to make sure the pancake batter cooks through. Make sure the pancake batter is fully cooked before eating. Note: this method does not allow the quinoa to blend so it may be noticeable when eating the pancakes. 

Serving and Storage

Serve on a dish with just one pancake or in a short stack. You can add any toppings you would like such as sliced bananas, other fruits, crushed nuts, syrup or honey. The syrup gives great flavor to this pancake recipe but is really not necessary as the pancakes are naturally sweetened by the bananas. 

I like to top these pancakes with some sliced bananas, crushed walnuts and a little bit of pure maple syrup which creates a delicious combination. 

Any leftover pancakes can be stored in the container with a cover or in a dish covered with plastic wrap. Keep in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. 

“How great is the goodness

you have stored up for those who fear you.

You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,

blessing them before the watching world.” Psalms ‭31:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬