Eating a pancake, a thin, round, flat cake, is a sweet way to start the day. Before topping up with bananas, strawberries, blueberries or honey, you need to make a starch-based batter. To make the batter you add eggs, butter and milk and then cook it on a pan. Add ingredients like almonds, Greek yogurt, eggs or cottage cheese to make protein pancakes! After all, you need protein to build and repair your tissues. Check out some of the best recipes for protein pancakes right here!

Why do we need protein?

Protein is a macronutrient that contains amino acids that our body needs for proper functioning. It’s essential for building and repairing tissues, making enzymes and hormones, and supporting immune function, says nutritionist Tanya Mehra. Proteins are known as the building blocks of our skin, muscles and bones and they play a vital role in all biological processes. The recommended dietary allowance for protein is only 0.8 grams per kilogram of our body weight. Harvard Health Publishing,

Protein pancake recipes

Here are some easy low-calorie, high-protein pancake recipes:

1. Oat and cottage cheese pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 4 large eggs
• 1 medium banana
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Mix all the ingredients, but not the oil, until they are smooth.
• Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease it with oil.
• Use a large cookie scoop to scoop the batter into the skillet.
• Cook until you see bubbles, then flip and cook until golden.

2. Greek yogurt pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Mix these ingredients except the oil until you get a smooth dough.
• Heat a skillet and grease it with a little oil.
• Take a large cookie scoop to transfer the batter to the skillet.
• Wait for bubbles to form, then flip and cook until golden.

3. Banana and egg pancakes

What’s needed

• 2 ripe bananas
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Mash the bananas and mix with the eggs, baking powder, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon.
• Heat a skillet and use oil to grease it.
• Use a large cookie scoop to move the batter to the skillet.
• Bubbles will form, then you can flip and cook until golden.

4. Quinoa Pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Mix the ingredients, but leave the oil in a bowl until well combined.
• Heat a pan and grease it with coconut oil.
• Transfer the batter to the skillet with the help of a cookie scoop.
• As bubbles form, flip and cook until golden.

5. Almond flour pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Mix all ingredients except oil until smooth.
• Heat a pan greased with coconut oil.
• Use a cookie scoop to transfer the batter to the skillet.
• Bubbles will form, then flip and wait until the pancakes turn golden.

6. Spinach and Cottage Cheese Pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Take the ingredients apart from the oil and mix until smooth.
• Take a pan, heat it and grease it with coconut oil.
• Take a cookie scoop to move the batter to the skillet.
• Once bubbles form, flip and cook pancakes until golden.

7. Sweet Potato Pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Set the coconut oil aside and mix the other ingredients until smooth.
• Grease a heated pan with coconut oil.
• To make round pancakes, use a cookie scoop to move the batter to the pan.
• Flip once you see bubbles and wait for the pancakes to turn golden.

8. Ricotta Pancakes

What’s needed

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Coconut oil for cooking

method

• Mix all ingredients except oil until smooth.
• Heat a pan and grease it with few drops of coconut oil.
• Transfer the batter to the pan with a cookie scoop.
• Once bubbles form, flip and cook pancakes until golden.

Enjoy these delicious and healthy protein packed pancakes.