“This [ricotta pancake recipe] isn’t for a boring breakfast,” explains cookbook author and former BA staffer Rick Martinez. “It’s a weekend beach brunch, best enjoyed with your new (hot) man (or woman) friend.” They’re absolutely loaded with blueberries: The finishing compote comprises jammy cooked berries and just-burst berries, added right at the end of cooking for texture, plus lots of lemon for brightness; the pancakes themselves are dotted with the juicy fruit. If you’d rather skip the blueberries, the pancake recipe will still work fine, but maybe add some lemon zest to the batter and slather with lemon curd for a lemon-ricotta pancake vibe (or swap in raspberries, huckleberries, or even dark chocolate chips and fudge sauce).
Despite their abundance, these pancakes are still tender and fluffy thanks to whipped egg whites and the combination of buttermilk and baking soda. They’re also a bit hearty thanks to a portion of whole wheat flour. But it’s the compote that puts this recipe over the top. While you can make the sauce a couple of days ahead and reheat it, the prep time required is so minimal you might as well prepare it while making the pancakes. If you have any left over, spoon it over vanilla ice cream for your new hot friend.
Looking for classic buttermilk pancakes? We’ve got you. Our best pancake recipe without any buttermilk at all? Yep, you’re covered there too.
Ingredients
Makes 8 large pancakes
Compote:
3
cups (about 510 g) fresh blueberries, divided
¼
cup (50 g) granulated sugar
1
pinch kosher salt
1½
1
Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pancakes:
4
large eggs, separated
½
cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
½
cup (58 g) whole wheat flour
1½
tsp. baking powder
1
tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
¼
tsp. baking soda
1⅓
cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
¾
cup buttermilk
2
tsp. vanilla extract
Vegetable oil (for griddle)
1
cup (about 170 g) fresh blueberries, divided
Pure maple syrup and room-temperature butter (for serving)
Preparation
- Compote:Step 1
Cook 2 cups (about 340 g) fresh blueberries, ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, and 1 pinch kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until berries start to burst and mixture becomes thick and jammy, 6–8 minutes. Add 1½ tsp. finely grated lemon zest, 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice, and remaining 1 cup (about 170 g) fresh blueberries. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Let compote sit until you are ready to serve.
Do Ahead: Compote can be made 2 days ahead.