Zucchini Pancakes with Italian Salsa

Absolute Sanctuary is home to one of the world’s best spa kitchens –Love Kitchen. Their menu is not only healthy but incredibly tasty, and packed full of goodness (and love). Here is a recipe you can make at home, taken from their Love Kitchen Cookbook, which will help fight ageing skin. In our eyes, it’s the perfect meal for a weekend brunch with friends. 

These pancakes help you start the day bright and alert. Zucchini, which gives these pancakes their distinctive character steps up the metabolism rate and has excellent anti-ageing properties. It is very rich in antioxidants which can improve the memory and reduce age-related negative process in the body. The vegetable’s high carotenoid content also sharpens vision and reduces eye stress. Sunflower oil is used to fry the pancakes because it is high in Vitamin E and low in trans fat.

PANCAKE INGREDIENTS

(MAKES 3 PANCAKES)

• 2 heaped tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 2 heaped tbsp. wholemeal flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/3 cup unsweetened soy milk
• 120gm zucchini, julienned
• 1 tbsp. sunflower oil

METHOD

1. Sift flours, baking powder and soda into a bowl
2. Gently stir the soy milk into the flour mixture to make a smooth batter
3. Add the zucchini. Mix well
4. Heat the oil in a frying pan and drop spoonfuls of batter into the pan to form a pancake. When bubbles appear on the top of the pancake, flip it over and continue to cook on the other side
5. Top the fresh pancakes with salsa and serve

ITALIAN SALSA INGREDIENTS

• 1 tomato, de-seeded and diced
• 1 shallot, finely minced
• 1 garlic, finely minced
• 2 sprigs basil leaves, finely chopped
• ½ lime
• ½ tbsp. olive oil
• Pinch of sea salt and black pepper

METHOD

1. Fill a bowl with the tomatoes, shallots and garlic
2. Add chopped basil leaves
3. Squeeze the lime, releasing the juice over the tomato-basil mixture
4. Stir in the olive oil and mix thoroughly
5. Season with salt and pepper
6. Dish salsa on top of pancakes and serve