Sesame Artichoke Pancakes with Smoked Cauliflower 'Cheese' Sauce

If you’re trying to stay healthy, but still want to impress at a dinner party – this is a great dish! It is 100% dairy-free, vegan…and can be made gluten-free with oat flour or any other gluten-free flour you desire in place of spelt. If you’re thinking of using buckwheat, I would half it with another flour such as gram, oat or coconut as its earthy flavour might overpower the sweetness of the artichoke.

Ingredients:

For pancakes

• ½ cup Jerusalem Artichoke puree

• 1 cup wholemeal spelt flour

• 1 cup oat or coconut milk

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 1 tbsp flaxseed

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tsp pink salt

• 1 tbsp raw sesame seeds

Smoked Cauliflower Cheese Sauce

• 1 ½ cups cauliflower puree

• 1 tbsp smoked paprika

• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast

• 1 tsp powdered garlic

• 1 tsp powdered onion

• salt & pepper to taste

• ¼ cup canned coconut milk

• 1-2 bunches asparagus spears

• Truffle oil

Method:

1. To puree the artichoke, I find the easiest thing to do it to roast the artichokes in the oven until soft & then blend with a hand blender.

2. In a bowl, blend the oil & artichoke with a hand blender until smooth. Add the milk & flaxseed and blitz again until combined. Sift in the flour, baking powder, salt & sesame seeds & fold together.

3. Set aside your pancake mixture. To cook your cauliflower, either boil or steam until soft. Add your cauliflower, paprika, yeast, garlic, onion, salt & pepper to the bowl & blend with your hand blender until smooth. Add your coconut milk & blend again until creamy & delicious.

4. Prepare & grill your asparagus on a griddle or frying pan and cook until al dente.

5. Now you can lightly oil your frying pan with olive oil & cook your pancakes. I like to use an ice-cream scoop to keep them the same size, but do whatever works for you. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until the top is bubbling. Flip and cook for a further minute on the other side until golden brown.

6. At this point, if you are preparing for a dinner party, you can place your pancakes & asparagus on a baking tray lined with baking paper to be heated up later along with your cauliflower sauce. Otherwise – serve your pancakes with a healthy drizzle of sauce, a few asparagus spears and if you’re really feeling indulgent – a little drizzle of truffle oil to top things off!