lemon poppy seed pancakes

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Follow these 3 key techniques so Chef John's lemon poppy seed pancakes turn out perfectly: give the lemon zest and sugar time to react, whisk the batter just enough and not too much, and have enough patience to let the batter rest for 10 minutes before cooking. You'll be rewarded with delicious, fluffy pancakes.

Ingredients:

1 rounded tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest, or more to taste
5 teaspoons poppy seeds
1 large egg
3 tablespoons butter, plus more for the pan
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
lemon wedges (optional)

Direction

Combine sugar and lemon zest, and stir to combine. Let stand about 15 minutes.
Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a separate bowl. Set aside.
Add poppy seeds, egg, and melted butter to the bowl of sugar, and whisk thoroughly. Add lemon juice, milk, and flour mixture. Whisk gently just until flour disappears. Let batter rest for 10 to 15 minutes before using.
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat, and generously grease with melted butter or vegetable oil.
Transfer about 1/3 cup of batter into the pan for each pancake, and cook until a few bubbles start to pop through the surface, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook the second side 3 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately.

Grilled Chicken with Coconut Rice and Chile Lime Sauce

At Cantinho do Aziz, a family-owned Mozambican restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal, chef Jeny Sulemange prepares a grilled coconut chicken that's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, which she serves with a truly irresistible coconut rice. When making this crispy grilled chicken at home, it's all about the marinade. To make it, use full-fat coconut milk; you'll skim the cream to make the marinade and use the remaining milk to infuse the rice with rich coconut flavor. (We recommend a Thai brand of coconut milk, like Chaokoh, which is richer with a much fuller coconut flavor.) Basting the chicken with more marinade on the grill gets the skin doubly crisp—the sugars in the marinade caramelize while the skin cooks and traps moisture and flavor in each bite.