Photo credit: www.foodandwine.com

The Rock’s Coconut Banana Pancakes: A Viral Sensation Worth Trying

In the culinary world, certain recipes come and go, often fading from memory as quickly as they gained popularity. However, some recipes deserve a permanent place in our cooking routines. With February being National Pancake Month, there’s a particularly notable breakfast creation from a celebrity that merits a second look.

On their podcast Knead to Know, Gemma Stafford, Ami Shukla, and Tianna Cohen highlighted the fact that numerous celebrities have shown an affinity for pancakes. Renowned chef Gordon Ramsay has made several pancake variations, while actor Kevin Bacon shared a minimalistic three-ingredient pancake recipe for his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, in 2023.

However, one of the most famous pancake recipes comes from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In March 2021, he and chef Janette “Puttie” Clark delighted fans with a video showcasing their coconut banana pancakes. Topped with creamy peanut butter and a drizzle of maple syrup, it’s easy to see why these crispy-edged delights took social media by storm. Here’s a guide on how to recreate them in your own kitchen.

What distinguishes these pancakes from the rest are two unique approaches. Unlike traditional banana pancake recipes that call for mashed bananas, Johnson’s recipe features bananas that are diced or sliced and mixed into the batter. This method not only simplifies the preparation but also ensures that each bite is infused with warm, tender pieces of banana.

Moreover, coconut is integrated in three distinct forms—unsweetened shredded coconut, coconut milk, and coconut water—providing a rich coconut flavor throughout the dish. The list of other necessary ingredients for “DJ’s Infamous Coconut Banana Pancakes,” as Johnson describes them, consists of common pantry staples. There’s no need for high-tech appliances; just have some fresh bananas and the right coconut products, and you can whip these up in no time.

Visuals of these enticing pancakes being served reveal their appealing moistness, a result of the substantial moisture from the bananas and the inclusion of coconut. For those plagued by dry pancakes in the past, this recipe offers a promising solution.

Johnson and Chef Puttie have released multiple videos demonstrating the recipe, with Puttie sharing that it took them two months to finalize the perfect pancake formula. Puttie emphasizes the importance of quality ingredients, encouraging shoppers to select premium shredded coconut and avoid stale flour.

These pancakes became tremendously successful not only for The Rock but also gained a significant following online. Inspired by the enthusiasm for the pancakes, Chef Puttie launched her own line of pancake mixes in 2022, including a boxed mix dedicated to coconut banana pancakes under the brand Simple Putt’s Pancakes.

While some may refer to Johnson’s pancakes as a protein-packed breakfast, this characterization may be a bit misleading. A stack of these pancakes is not notably high in protein, as they do not contain protein powder or other protein-enhancing ingredients, and both banana and coconut provide minimal protein content.

Nevertheless, does it truly matter if our Sunday pancakes deliver a hefty dose of protein? For many, the focus is more on enjoying the delightful taste than on nutritional content. A classic way to serve these pancakes, as The Rock suggests, is with a generous amount of peanut butter on top for added protein and rich flavor, complemented by maple syrup for that finishing touch.

Source
www.foodandwine.com